2023 Voice referendum explainer: How to vote and how it's decided

It's been 24 years since a referendum was held in Australia so for voters it's either going to be their first, or the first in a long time. The 2023 referendum will ask Australians whether to recognise First Nations people in the constitution through a Voice to Parliament. About 6.4 million people will be voting in their first federal referendum on October 14 - based on age alone. Yes, like elections, voting in referendums is compulsory for all Australian citizens aged 18 and over. People who are enrolled to vote in elections are already enrolled for the referendum. You can check your enrolment details are correct or enrol for the first time on the AEC website. A record 97.5 per cent of voters are enrolled according to the Australian Electoral Commission. This includes an estimated 94.1 per cent of Indigenous voters - the first time this figure has been above 90 per cent in Australia's history. The 2023 referendum is being held on Saturday, October 14. Voting centres will be open on the day for people to vote in-person - with details on locations and opening hours to be provided closer to the date. Early voting is available from October 2 in Victoria. In Warrnambool, pre-polling is at the old Callaghan Motors site at 131-145 Fairy Street. Postal voting will be another option while voters who are blind or have low vision can access telephone voting. If you're going to be overseas for the referendum and can't vote early, about 100 in-person voting centres will be set up overseas or you can apply for a postal vote. If you're voting on the day of the referendum, there will be a number of polling booths set up across the south-west: Can't see one that suits you? Visit the AEC website. The 2023 referendum ballot paper will ask the following question: A Proposed Law: to alter the Constitution to recognise the First Peoples of Australia by establishing an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice. Do you approve this proposed alteration? Voters will be asked to clearly write "yes" or "no" in a single box on the ballot paper. The AEC has a sample ballot paper on its website where you can practise completing a vote. Counting of ballot papers will begin at 6pm local time when voting centres close on October 14. That night all votes cast that day will be counted as well as most of the early votes. The timing of the result being declared depends on how close it is, with the AEC cautioning it may take days or weeks for additional pre-poll, overseas and postal votes to be received and counted. IN OTHER LOCAL NEWS: Our journalists work hard to provide local, up-to-date news to the community. This is how you can access our trusted content: