Saturday’s referendum day will mark the closing of a long chapter in the polarized debate over Indigenous rights in Australia.
Although much of the conversation on Indigenous Voice in Parliament is dominated by politicians and activists, the final call is in the hands of the public.
Here’s what you need to know before October 14.
Where to vote?
More than 7,000 polling stations will open from 08:00 to 18:00 on Saturday. Similar to elections, polling stations will be held in schools, churches, community centers and town halls across the country.
People can find their nearest polling station on the Australian Electoral Commission website.
More than 7000 polling stations will open between 8am and 6pm on Saturday as millions of Australians are still searching for their ballots.
NSW Premier Chris Minns and Federal Minister for Indigenous Australians Linda Burney cast their vote at the polling station at Carlton South Public School, Sydney.
How to vote?
Voters are asked to write clearly in English either Yes or No on their ballot papers for the following question:
A proposed law: to amend the Constitution to recognize Australia’s First Peoples by creating an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice. Do you approve of this proposed change?
This would include a new chapter in the Constitution which would read as follows:
129 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice
In recognition of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as the First Peoples of Australia:
(i) there shall be one body, to be called the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice;
(ii) the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice may make representations to Parliament and the Executive Government of the Commonwealth on matters relating to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples;
(iii) Parliament shall, subject to this Constitution, have power to make laws relating to matters relating to the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice, including its composition, functions, powers and procedures.
Independent Senator Lidia Thorpe casts her vote in the Vote referendum at Reservoir in Melbourne
Senator Lidia Thorpe walks past a ‘Yes’ campaigner as she arrives to vote at Reservoir in Melbourne
Federal Minister for Indigenous Australians Linda Burney pictured at the polling station at Carlton South Public School, Sydney
Voters buy democracy sausages outside a polling station at Old Parliament House in Canberra
People were instructed not to use ticks or crosses to indicate their answer. This rule has been in force over the past 30 years for six referendums.
According to the SEC, only 0.86 percent of votes were counted as informal during the 1999 referendum.
Can I vote early?
Early voting officially closes at 6pm on Friday 13 October.
People can find early voting locations using the Where Can I Vote? tool on their website.
What if I don’t vote?
Voting is compulsory in Australia. Failure to vote as an eligible citizen age 18 or older will result in a $20 fine.
Who will not vote?
Prisoners serving sentences of more than three years are not eligible to vote in federal elections or referendums. Given the high representation of Aboriginal people in prisons, about 40,000 First Nations people will not vote.
People waiting to become Australian citizens will also not vote on Saturday. There have been about 100,000 applications for citizenship since May 30, according to the Home Affairs department.
People wait to vote Referendum voting at an East Melbourne polling booth
David Littleproud, leader of the Federal National Party attends a polling station in Brisbane
A voter is seen inside a polling station at Old Parliament House in Canberra
When will we know?
Counting will start at 18:00 on October 14.
The SEC will start publishing the results after the polls close. A virtual computing room will automatically update every 90 seconds to provide results from the electorate.
A result will most likely not be confirmed on the night given a record number of postal votes; however, it is possible that the final answer will become clear if it is not a close race.
(tagsTranslate) daily mail(s) news(es) Indigenous Voice in Parliament