If you're voting from overseas you can mark your voting paper digitally, and you and your witness can sign the special vote declaration using an electronic device or by inserting a digital signature, as long as it shows your normal signatures.
You may also choose to print your voting papers and complete them by hand, then scan or photograph and upload them.
How to complete your voting papers
Tick the circle next to the name of the electorate candidate you choose. You can only vote for one candidate. In a by-election you do not get a party vote.
It's important to make sure that both you and your witness have signed your special vote declaration - otherwise your vote will not count.
Ensure that your witness completes the blue section of the declaration - i.e. Step 6.
You can both sign the form by inserting an image of your signatures or by drawing your signatures using a signature pad, trackpad, touchpad, mouse, light pen, or similar device.
We cannot accept typed signatures.
Your witness must be present and see you sign your declaration form.
You need to also make sure you've completed all the relevant information on your declaration - in particular your grounds (i.e. your reason) for making a special vote.
Marking your voting papers electronically
Your downloaded voting papers will include
Your special vote declaration
Your ballot paper
An instruction sheet.
These will arrive as a single 3-page PDF. Please follow all instructions on the downloaded PDF. Please mark your voting papers using black or blue ink, for clarity.
Below are instructions for completing your voting papers using most common applications and devices.
Your electronic signature can be a scanned image of your signature or a signature you have drawn with a signature pad, trackpad, touchpad, touchscreen, mouse, light pen, or similar device.
Your electronic signature cannot be typed or use a signature/handwriting font.
Adobe Acrobat and Adobe Reader are applications that allow you to edit PDFs.
Hover over “Open with” and click on Adobe Reader/Acrobat.
Click the “Pen” icon on the toolbar located at the top of your PDF. This is the “Fill & Sign” option. You use this to mark-up your PDF voting papers.
Click the “Sign” icon at the top of your PDF, and then click “add signature” you will need to use the draw or image options to do this. Your witness can add their signature in the “add initials” option, this is the same process as your signature.
After completing your PDF voting paper, you can now save it. The Save icon (floppy disk) is located near the top left of the screen. Click this to save your PDF.
Completing your vote using a web browser requires the use of Microsoft Edge or Mozilla Firefox.
It is not currently possible to edit or mark a PDF using the standard versions of Google Chrome or Apple Safari browsers.
Marking your declaration and ballot paper will be different depending on which web browser you are using.
Microsoft Edge
Right click on your PDF Voting Papers.
Hover over “Open with” and click Microsoft Edge.
Click the “Add Text” button which is located on the left side of the tool bar at the top of your PDF, (it is a “T” inside a square). Use this to add text where it is needed.
Click the “Draw” option which is located on the left side of the tool bar at the top of your PDF, to the left of the “eraser”. Use this option to add your signature and your witness’s signature to the relevant sections.
Once you have signed your Declaration you can complete your voting paper, by using the “draw” option to add a tick to the circle next to your chosen party and candidate.
Click “Save as” which is on the right side of your toolbar (it is the “floppy disk” with a pen) re-name your completed PDF and save to an easy to find place. Your voting papers are now ready to be uploaded.
Mozilla Firefox
Right click on your PDF Voting Papers.
Hover over “Open with” and click Firefox.
Use the “Text” option which is located on the right side of your toolbar next to the “Pen” icon to complete the relevant sections of your Declaration.
Now to add your signature and your witnesses” signature to your Declaration, you need to use the draw option, which is the “pen” icon located on the right side of the toolbar.
After you and your witness sign your Declaration, you can fill in your voting paper. To do this use the “draw” option to add tick to the circle next to your chosen party and candidate.
Click “Save” which is located on your toolbar between the “print” and “text” options. Your PDF Voting Paper are now ready to be uploaded.
Go to the “Files” (the blue folder) application on your iPhone. You can find this by using the search function.
Use the search bar in the “Files” application to find your Voting Paper. If your PDF voting paper was the last thing you downloaded to your phone, it will be at the top of your recent downloads.
Tap on “voting.papers.pdf”
Tap the “marker” icon at the bottom of the screen to draw on your PDF voting papers. To add text to your pdf, click the “+” and then choose the “text” option. The word “text” will now be on your screen DOUBLE tap this to bring up your keyboard.
Use the “Marker” to sign your Declaration and your witness must use “Marker” to add their signature to Step 6.
Tap “Done” in the top right of the screen, to save the markings made on your PDF Voting Papers. You are now ready to upload them.
Go to the “My Files” application on your Android device. You can find this by using the search function.
At the top of your screen in the “My Files” application, it shows your most recent files downloaded. Tap on your PDF Voting Paper.
Tap on the “Pen” icon at the top of your screen, next to the search icon. You use this “Pen” to draw/write on your voting papers.
Tap the 3 dots next to the “Save”, then tap insert and you will be given the option to insert text boxes which you can use to enter information into the relevant fields.
Use the “Pen” near the bottom right of your screen to add your signature and the witnesses signature to your Declaration.
Tap “Save” located near the top right of the screen. This will save any markings made to your PDF voting papers. You are now ready to upload them.
Opening/Marking-up HEIC/HEIF files on a device, other than the one used to take them.
Using any browser other than Edge or Firefox to mark your voting papers.
Using websites capable of editing documents to mark your voting papers.
Using browser extensions to mark your voting papers.
If you are using a public device, ensure you delete any material from the device after you have finished marking papers and uploading documents.
