Doha: The Australian Embassy in Qatar has announced the next federal election will be held on May 21 and urged its citizens to exercise their right of suffrage.
In a tweet, Australian Ambassador to Qatar, H E Jonathan Muir said: “Aussies in Qatar can vote postal ballot. Check your enrolment and apply for a postal ballot at aec.gov.au/overseas. These can be returned directly to the AEC or via the Embassy.”
AEC or Australian Electoral Commission recommends overseas voters cast a postal vote in this election.
“Australians in Qatar are able to vote via postal vote, which can either be posted to the AEC directly or, mailed or dropped off to the Australian Embassy in Qatar. In person voting is not possible in Qatar,” the Embassy said.
To send in a postal vote, address it to Australian Embassy, Tornado Tower, West Bay, PO Box 22131, Doha, State of Qatar. Postal votes may be dropped off at the Embassy in person between 8:30am to 1pm.
The Embassy added that the enrolment closes on April 18 and on April 26, postal votes will start being sent to registered voters on May 18, requests for postal votes close; and on June 3, the cut off for return of postal votes to AEC.
AEC said if an Australian citizen is living or working overseas, he can apply to be registered as an overseas elector and a general postal voter.
If he is already registered as an overseas elector, he can apply to become a general postal voter. As a general poster voter, he will be sent ballot papers as soon as practicable after the declaration of nominations for a federal election.
To be eligible to enrol to vote overseas, one must be aged 18 years or older and intending to return to Australia within six years.
Australians living in Qatar who are not able to enrol by the time of the federal election may not be able to vote.
