Voting
7 min · 26 practice questions
Australian citizens aged 18 or over must enrol to vote in federal, state and territory elections and in referenda on constitutional change. Voting is compulsory, and a person who is not correctly enrolled cannot vote. Voting is by secret ballot — no one may know how a person voted unless they choose to tell. A person who does not vote and has no good reason may have to pay a fine.
What Our Common Bond says
- Australian citizens aged 18 or over must enrol to vote in federal, state and territory elections and in referenda.
- Voting is compulsory in Australian elections and in referenda on constitutional change.
- A person who is not correctly enrolled cannot vote in an election.
- Voting is by secret ballot; no one may know how someone voted unless the voter chooses to tell them.
- Not voting without a good reason may result in a fine.
Common mistakes
- Thinking voting or enrolment is optional — both are compulsory for eligible citizens.
- Assuming non-citizens or people under 18 must enrol — the requirement is for citizens aged 18 or over.
- Believing someone can still vote when their enrolment details are wrong — they cannot.
Test yourself
One question at a time: pick an answer, then check it. Everything here comes from Our Common Bond, Part 3, page 26 (official booklet ↗).
Question 1 of 26
Checked against Our Common Bond (0.3.1). Last reviewed September 2026. How questions are checked