The Australian Electoral Fee has confirmed all folks presently isolating with COVID-19 will have the ability to vote in tomorrow's federal election after it advisable a change to phone polling eligibility following complaints from candidates and voters.
The AEC confirmed over-the-phone voting could be prolonged to individuals who have examined constructive for COVID-19 since Friday, Could 13.
Electoral Commissioner Tom Rogers mentioned each registered Australian would have the ability to entry their vote, regardless of their isolation necessities.
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"With many jurisdictions internationally not providing voting providers for COVID-positive voters through the pandemic, we're proud to be delivering the mix of protected and safe voting providers for all voters," Rogers mentioned.
"We heard from group members who didn't apply for a postal vote earlier than the deadline, we acted to increase the telephone voting service and all COVID-positive voters can vote within the election."
People who find themselves unable to attend voting stations as a result of having COVID-19 can register for a telephone poll by the AEC web site.
The loophole within the unique rules might have seen 1000's of COVID-positive voters left unable to solid their poll
Initially, solely individuals who examined constructive to COVID-19 after 6pm on Tuesday this week could possibly be eligible for telephone voting.
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2312Individuals who examined constructive to the virus earlier than that deadline, however didn't register for a postal vote earlier than purposes closed on 6pm this Wednesday, could be unable to solid a telephone poll.
This meant probably 1000's of voters could possibly be left in isolation on Saturday with no approach of collaborating within the democratic course of.
The federal authorities confirmed in the present day it might again the AEC's advice to increase telephone voting eligibility lower than 24 hours earlier than polls open tomorrow.
The advice got here after the unbiased candidate for Kooyong, Monique Ryan, introduced final night time she would launch a authorized problem towards Particular Minister for State Ben Morton to make sure COVID-positive Australians weren't shut out of voting.
Ryan raised over $125,000 to fund that motion, and mentioned earlier in the present day her marketing campaign would provide a refund of all "unspent" funds to donors as quickly as doable.
"Some donors have indicated that they do not need refunds. In that occasion, we'll donate any remaining funds to a charitable authorized advocacy fund to maintain preventing for all Australians' capacity to vote," she mentioned.
"We've shared this data with all of the donors to our authorized fund and might be contacting them to debate their choices inside the subsequent few days."
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