Register to vote: candidate

A candidate for O’Connor has called on people to enrol to vote and get out on election day to support their preferred nominee.

Labor candidate Shelley Payne claimed doorknocking the region had lead her to believe there was a general desire for change, but said people should make sure they are registered to vote.

“Elections in Australia are always close and people can’t be complacent,” she said.

“They need to make sure they vote and they vote carefully and wisely - especially if they want change.”

The Liberal Party has won all but one of the past 14 elections for the O’Connor seat - with only a Nationals Party victory in 2010 breaking the run.

In 2016 the race was down to the Liberal and Labor parties, with Rick Wilson comfortably taking the seat with 65 per cent of the two-party-preferred vote.

This year six candidates have been nominated so far.

On Thursday Prime Minister Scott Morrison announced the election would be held on May 18.

Enrol or update your details, if necessary

If you’ve moved, turned 18 or become an Australian citizen since 2016, you may need to update your details ahead of this year’s Federal election.

Registering or updating details is a quick online process and can be done on your phone.

Physical forms can also be printed out from aec.gov.au or found at the post office.

Enrolling is compulsory once you are an Australian citizen over 18. You will need to provide details including your name, date of birth, address, contact details and citizenship status.

Evidence of your identity is required — either an Australian driver’s licence, an Australian passport or the details and signature of a person on the Commonwealth electoral roll who can confirm your identity.

If you have filled in a physical form, it can be posted for free, faxed, scanned or delivered in-person to an Australian Electoral Commission office.

As Australia is one of 22 countries with compulsory voting, you risk a fine if you are enrolled and do not vote.

About 95 per cent of eligible voters participated in the 2016 Federal election, but the Australian Electoral Commission predicted about 800,000 eligible Australians were not enrolled.