Half of Australia begins the early voting process for the Voice referendum on Monday.

Chosen states and territories are eligible to vote two weeks early with the referendum scheduled for Saturday, October 14, 2023.

The following states and territories are eligible to vote on Monday, October 2, 2023:

Northern Territory

Tasmania

Victoria

Western Australia

The following states and territories are eligible to vote on Tuesday, October 3, 2023:

Australian Capital Territory

New South Wales

Queensland

South Australia

Australians eligible to vote early are listed on the Australian Electoral Commission’s (AEC) website.

Those eligible to vote in the Voice referendum will be asked whether they approve of the proposed law to alter the Constitution to recognise the First Peoples of Australia by establishing an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice.

If approved, this would see a new chapter added to the Constitution.

The new chapter would enable the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples to have a body in parliament and the Executive Government of the Commonwealth to advise on matters relating to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

The Parliament may also refer to the new chapter when making laws around composition, functions, powers, and procedures that relate to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

Prime Minister, Anthony Albanese told ABC Radio on Monday that voting ‘yes’ would improve outcomes for Indigenous Australians.

“A vote for ‘no’ is a vote for no change, it’s a vote which says that everything’s going okay at the moment and the truth is that it’s not,” he said.

Education Minister, Jason Clare told Sky News that he is confident a constitutional change is likely.

“This is not a Labor idea, this is not a Liberal idea. This is the idea of Indigenous Australians asking us to work with them, asking us to listen, holding out their hand,” he said.

“Australians have got a choice in a few weeks: to shake that hand or slap it away.”

For more information about early polling locations, opening hours, accessibility services and the Voice referendum can be found on the AEC’s website and their voting centre location tool.

Photo: 2016_Australian_Election-Voting booths by Australian Electoral Commission available HERE and used under a Creative Commons license. This image has not been modified.