Australians will head to the polls this year for the federal election.
SBS News will explain what that means for you, how the Australian election system works, and how to stay informed.
Here's a look at how to enrol to vote and where to go to update your voting details.
Are you required to vote?
Unlike the vast majority of countries around the world, Australia has a compulsory voting system.
This means just about all Australian citizens over the age of 18 are legally required to vote and must be enrolled within seven days of the election being called.
Otherwise, you will miss out on a chance to have your say and could even face a fine.
You can enrol to vote as early as 16 years old. If you know you'll be 18 by the time of the election, it's a good idea to enrol now so you're ready to vote.
Kath Gleeson, the deputy electoral commissioner at the Australian Electoral Commission (AEC), said: "Australians who aren't yet 18 years of age or reside in Australia but aren't citizens will not be eligible to enrol or to vote."
She said there's only a small number of adult Australian citizens who are ineligible to vote.
"There are some categories of elector who are unable to vote, perhaps due to a prison sentence, for instance, but eligibility rules and requirements are very clear on the AEC website, and I encourage all Australians to check their eligibility if they're in doubt," she said.
AEC deputy electoral commissioner Kath Gleeson said there's only a small number of adult Australian citizens who are ineligible to vote. Source: AAP / Dominic Giannini
You can also try to submit a valid and sufficient reason to the AEC, but it is ultimately at their discretion.
And if you are travelling abroad, you can still have your say if you plan ahead.
"You might be able to vote at an overseas embassy or high commission, or you can apply for a postal vote now at ," Gleeson said.
So, how do I enrol to vote?
The first step is to head to the AEC website or — if you don't have access to the internet — you can call 13 23 26 and follow the prompts.
On the website, you'll need to click 'Enrol to vote' and then 'Start enrolment' and make sure you have your driver's licence, passport, Medicare card, or citizenship number ready to prove your identity.
If you don't have access to one of those documents, you can get another person who is already enrolled to confirm your identity as well.
From there, all you have to do is fill out some personal details and submit your application form.
And, even if you're fairly sure you are enrolled to vote and your details are up to date, there's no harm in confirming this on the website, especially if you've had a recent change of address.
"We encourage all Australians to check that your details are up-to-date and that you're ready to vote ahead of the election. The rolls will close within seven days of the issue of the writ," Gleeson said.
