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Australians will vote in a referendum on October 14. What do you need to know?

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Australians will go to the polls on October 14 to vote in a referendum on an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice. We have not voted in a federal referendum since 1999. So what do you need to know?How is a referendum run? A referendum is run by the Australian Electoral Commission in the same way as they do elections.

Key Points: 


Australians will go to the polls on October 14 to vote in a referendum on an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice. We have not voted in a federal referendum since 1999. So what do you need to know?

How is a referendum run?

    • A referendum is run by the Australian Electoral Commission in the same way as they do elections.
    • That means most people will vote in a polling booth on Saturday October 14 at a local school or community centre.

What will I be voting on?

    • In this case, the amendment doesn’t change existing words, but instead adds new words to the Constitution.
    • Chapter IX — Recognition of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples 129 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice In recognition of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as the First Peoples of Australia: (i) there shall be a body, to be called the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice; (ii) the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice may make representations to the Parliament and the Executive Government of the Commonwealth on matters relating to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples; (iii) the Parliament shall, subject to this Constitution, have power to make laws with respect to matters relating to the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice, including its composition, functions, powers and procedures.

What is the question and how do I fill in the ballot paper correctly?

    • Instead, voters are asked to approve the amendment as set out in the proposed law that has been already passed by parliament.
    • That proposed law is identified by its “long title’, which gives a brief description of its nature.
    • A Proposed Law: to alter the Constitution to recognise the First Peoples of Australia by establishing an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice.
    • A single box is then provided, and you fill in your ballot paper by either writing "yes” or “no” in that box.

How is the outcome of the referendum determined and when will we know?

    • Pre-poll votes and those postal votes that have already been received will also be counted on the night.
    • Unlike an election, there is a special double majority that has to be met for a referendum to pass.
    • First, a majority of formal votes across the country (including in the territories) would need to be “yes” votes.

What happens if the referendum passes or fails?

    • If the referendum passes, it is then sent to the governor-general, who gives assent to it.
    • Once that happens, the amendment to the Constitution is made.

How does the South Australian Voice to Parliament work and what does it tell us about how a national Voice might work?

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But just like the proposed federal Voice, the South Australian Voice is a response to the call for structural reform in the Uluru Statement from the Heart.

Key Points: 
  • But just like the proposed federal Voice, the South Australian Voice is a response to the call for structural reform in the Uluru Statement from the Heart.
  • What is the South Australian Voice to Parliament, and what can it tell us about how a national Voice might work?

Who are the members of the South Australian Voice?

    • The First Nations Voice Act 2023 (SA) actually creates multiple Voices: a state First Nations Voice and several local First Nations Voices.
    • First Nations people who live in South Australia will vote for members of their Local First Nations Voice.
    • Each local Voice will have two presiding members of different genders, with those presiding members forming the state Voice.

What will the South Australian First Nations Voice do?

    • The South Australian Voice will present its views to the state parliament and executive in a range of ways.
    • The South Australian Voice will engage with the South Australian parliament by:


    The South Australian First Nations Voice will engage with the executive government of South Australia by:
    The South Australian government will be under no obligation to follow the Voice’s advice – just like the situation for the proposed national Voice.

    Read more:
    10 questions about the Voice to Parliament - answered by the experts

What does this mean for the federal Voice?

    • The state Voice will commence its operations next year, regardless of the result of this year’s referendum.
    • Having said that, the state Voice helps us to imagine what a national Voice could look like.
    • Cornelia Koch receives funding from the Law Foundation of South Australia for community education relating to the Voice referendum.