Overseas Australians able to vote in marriage postal survey from this week

As the Australian Bureau of Statistics sends out the final forms for the government’s postal survey on marriage, overseas Australians are now to cast their vote in the national opinion poll.

All Australians on the electoral role, including those overseas, are able to participate in the survey which asks “should the law change to allow same-sex couples to marry” by phone or online.

The Australian Government has made provisions for Australians living, working, and travelling overseas to have multiple ways to participate. Australians overseas can vote by obtaining a secure access code to vote over the phone or online by calling a dedicated number.

Alternatively, Australians living or working overseas can ask a trusted person back in Australia to complete the survey on their behalf. People who have an overseas postal address on the Electoral Roll will be posted a letter containing their Secure Access Code.

Alex Greenwich from the Equality Campaign said more than a million Australians live overseas and these could be the votes that decide the outcome of the postal survey.

“Whether it’s voting over the phone, online, or getting a friend or loved one to fill in the survey on your behalf, Aussies overseas have a critical role in ensuring we win.

“The postal survey gives everyone the ability to vote for our national values of fairness and equality, and to vote for your friends, family members and loved ones,” Greenwich added.

Anna Brown from the Equality Campaign said, “We know a majority of Australians support marriage equality. We need everyone to complete the survey if the result is to accurately reflect the long-held support of the Australian people for equal status and dignity for all.”

Australian expat Joe Murphy, who married his husband Nick Smith in New York last year, said, “This survey allows us to vote yes to making the country we love a fairer and more equal place. We’re going to make sure we vote and tell all our fellow expats to do the same.”

For more information, head to www.marriagesurvey.abs.gov.au/overseas or call +61 2 6252 5262.