How do I know if I'm provisionally enrolled to vote?

In Plain English

Based on the provided information, here's how you might be provisionally enrolled:

  • Citizenship Application: If you've applied to become an Australian citizen and have been told by the Immigration Department that you'll become a citizen between the time a referendum is announced and the voting day, you might be eligible for provisional enrolment for that referendum (Referendum (Machinery Provisions) Act 1984). You must also not be currently enrolled and would be qualified to enroll if you were already a citizen.
  • General Provisional Enrollment: You may be provisionally enrolled if your name cannot be found on the certified list of voters or an approved list of voters for your Division, or if other discrepancies exist related to your listed information (Referendum (Machinery Provisions) Act 1984; Commonwealth Electoral Act 1918).

Detailed Explanation

The legislative excerpts provided describe provisional enrolment in specific contexts:

  • Referendum Provisional Enrolment for Citizenship Applicants: Section 38 of the Referendum (Machinery Provisions) Act 1984 outlines a specific scenario for provisional enrolment related to referendums. If a person has applied for Australian citizenship and has received notification from the Immigration Department that they will become a citizen between the issue of the writ for a referendum and the voting day, they may apply for provisional enrolment. This is provided that they are not already enrolled and would be qualified for enrolment if they were already a citizen.

  • General Provisional Voting: Both the Referendum (Machinery Provisions) Act 1984 and the Commonwealth Electoral Act 1918 outline circumstances where a person may cast a "provisional vote". This occurs if the person's name cannot be found on the certified list of voters, or if there are discrepancies related to their address or identity on the list. If a person is "provisionally enrolled", this is also grounds for casting a provisional vote.

The documents do not specify how you would be notified of provisional enrollment, only that it is a condition that allows you to cast a provisional vote.