A social media video claims you cannot have postal votes in referendums.
This is false. The Australian Electoral Commission1 (AEC) told AAP FactCheck postal voting was a normal part of referendums, allowing people who can't attend a polling place on referendum day to still cast their vote.
The claim was made during a discussion on the voice referendum2 in a video on a Facebook page known for spreading misinformation.
"They're doing a postal vote. It's not an election. This is a referendum. And we know that postal votes are only for an election," one of the speakers says (video mark 7min 30sec).
Just prior to this comment, the same man discusses scrutineers3, people who observe the electoral process, 4and claims "you've got to be registered to a party" to be a scrutineer at the voice referendum.
A representative for the AEC, the independent federal agency5 which manages elections, said both claims were untrue.
AEC digital engagement director Evan Ekin-Smyth6 told AAP FactCheck postal votes were "very much allowed for in a referendum for people who cannot make it to a polling place or early voting centre".
Part IV of the Referendum Machinery Provisions Act 19847 lays out the process for using postal votes in a referendum and how to apply for it.
Postal vote applications for the voice referendum8 close on Wednesday, October 11, and must be completed on or before the referendum day of October 14.
The AEC website explains that people are allowed to cast a postal vote, rather than voting at a polling place, for a variety of reasons including ill health, travel, work and religious beliefs.
Governor-General David Hurley9 issued the writ10 for the referendum on September 11, setting the vote in motion11, including opening up the process for postal voting.
The country's most recent referendum12 was the 1999 vote on the republic and a preamble to the constitution.13
Postal voting was allowed then, with the AEC report on the referendum explaining14 it was for: "Electors with a disability, silent electors15, prisoners, those in remote areas, and people who have religious objections to attending a polling place on polling day."
The video's claim that scrutineers for the referendum must be registered to a political party is also incorrect.
Mr Ekin-Smyth said scrutineers are appointed and the AEC has procedures in place16 for candidates.
The scrutineer appointment form 17states that in "a referendum, scrutineers can be appointed by the Governor-General, the Governor of a state, the Chief Minister for the Australian Capital Territory, the Administrator of the Northern Territory, or the registered officer of a registered political party."
There's no qualification they have to be a party member.
"There is no requirement to be a member of a registered party, just rather that registered parties can appoint scrutineers for the referendum," Mr Ekin-Smyth said.
False - The claim is inaccurate.
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