Key activity 2
Prepare for and deliver electoral events
The AEC delivers federal electoral events, industrial elections, protected action ballots, and Torres Strait Regional Authority elections in accordance with the relevant legislation and rules.
The AEC provides the best possible electoral services and events to stakeholders and the public within a complex environment and in response to increasing community expectations. The AEC must deliver these services and events with the highest degree of integrity, impartiality, and in accordance with legislation.
Conducting successful electoral events
It is compulsory for all eligible Australian citizens to enrol and vote in federal elections, by-elections and referendums.
The AEC supports this by:
- providing a range of voting options
- monitoring and responding to voter turnout and formality.
The AEC also conducts Senate special counts1 and delivers other elections and ballots as required or authorised by legislation. These include elections for the Torres Strait Regional Authority board and registered organisations, and protected action ballots.
Directed Level of Electoral Readiness (DLER) dates are used to establish operational planning for the next federal election. We do this through the AEC’s election planning tool – the Election Ready Road Map.
In 2020–21, the AEC delivered two by-elections for the divisions of Eden-Monaro and Groom (see Appendix D: Electoral events data for by-election data).
Electoral Integrity Assurance Taskforce
In 2020–21, the Electoral Integrity Assurance Taskforce collaborated on electoral integrity matters as required. It enabled efficient and effective communication and coordination on matters relating to the integrity of the Eden-Monaro and Groom by-elections.
The taskforce is supported as required by the national intelligence community and comprises the following agencies:
- Australian Electoral Commission (co-chair)
- Department of Finance (co-chair)
- Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet
- Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Communications
- Attorney-General’s Department
- Department of Home Affairs
- Australian Federal Police.
The taskforce advises the Electoral Commissioner on matters related to electoral integrity within the Australian federal electoral environment.
It is a model for agencies across government working together to support the integrity of Australian elections.
Cyber security
As well as engaging the Electoral Integrity Assurance Taskforce, and steps taken to mitigate cyber threats at the federal election and by-elections, the AEC is committed to enhancing its cyber security posture. This includes:
- undertaking regular testing activities and using external authorities and experts to assure the security, integrity and availability of AEC systems
- establishing a commercial relationship for independent cyber security monitoring of the AEC network and systems
- conducting incident response workshops for external service providers to support the AEC’s cyber response
- implementing mitigation strategies to protect the AEC network, including the Australian Cyber Security Centre’s Essential 8 to mitigate against the risk of cyber intrusions
- ensuring staff complete mandatory cyber security awareness training
- continually improving the AEC’s technical and people capability to manage cyber risks.
PERFORMANCE STATEMENT – KEY ACTIVITY TWO
Intended result 2.1 The AEC maintains an appropriate level of election readiness | ||
|---|---|---|
Performance measure | ||
AEC-wide readiness checks before and at the issue of election writs confirm an appropriate level of election readiness | Source | AEC Election Readiness Framework and Assessment Framework. |
Method & frequency | Internal readiness assessment before the federal election. | |
Target | Agency-wide readiness checks conducted at the following milestones: writ ready minus 100 days Directed Level of Electoral Readiness date (DLER). | |
Result | Partly met | |
Explanation of result: Readiness checks at the first DLER date show no significant barriers to overall election readiness. This performance measure is considered ‘partly met’ as some activities were either not ready for assessment at the first DLER deadline, or were found at assessment to be partially met. This was due to factors including staffing limitations and delays in national contracts. The second DLER readiness check occurs in September 2021. | ||
Intended result 2.2 The public and stakeholders have confidence the electoral process is well managed in accordance with legislation | ||
|---|---|---|
Performance measure | ||
The writs for a federal election event are issued and returned in accordance with legislation and timeframes | Source | Electoral Act, Electoral Commissioner’s advice published on www.aec.gov.au and outcomes of the Court of Disputed Returns. |
Method & frequency | For each electoral event, writs returned to the Governor-General or State Governors or the Speaker of the House of Representatives. | |
Target | Date on the returned election writs falls within the timeframe specified. | |
Result | Met | |
Explanation of result: In 2020–21, the AEC conducted federal by-elections for the divisions of Eden-Monaro and Groom. The writs for these were issued and returned in accordance with the Electoral Act. The Eden-Monaro by-election was held on 4 July 2020. The writ for this was returned on 21 July 2020, before the specified date. The Groom by-election was held on 28 November 2020. The writ for this was returned on 2 December 2020, before the specified date. | ||
Intended result 2.3 Accessible and high-quality enrolment and polling services | ||
|---|---|---|
Performance measure | ||
Percentage of new enrolments and enrolment updates lodged through the Online Enrolment Service | Source | Roll data from AEC enrolment systems and extracts. |
Method & frequency | Rates calculated monthly and reported annually at the end of each financial year. | |
Target | 65% | |
Result | Met at 86.8% | |
Percentage of enrolment applications lodged via the Online Enrolment System that are system approved | Source | Roll data from AEC enrolment systems and extracts. |
Method & frequency | Rates calculated monthly and reported at the end of each financial year. | |
Target | 55% | |
Result | Met at 58.0% | |
Explanation of result: The AEC is enhancing and improving its online services to help Australians meet their enrolment obligations. A total 86.8% of enrolment transactions were received in 2020-21 using the AEC's online enrolment system. Of these transactions, 58.0% were verified and approved by the system without human intervention. | ||
Intended result 2.3 Accessible and high-quality enrolment and polling services | ||
|---|---|---|
Performance measure | ||
Voting locations (including early voting centres and polling places) published on the AEC website before polling commences | Source | AEC Election Management System data and www.aec.gov.au |
Method & frequency | Publication on www.aec.gov.au | |
Target | 100% of polling locations are published. | |
Result | Met | |
Explanation of result: At the two by-elections held during the year, the AEC published 100% of locations before polling commenced and provided updates daily. | ||
Intended result 2.3 Accessible and high-quality enrolment and polling services | ||
|---|---|---|
Performance measure | ||
After election night, count information is progressively updated on the AEC website | Source | AEC Election Management System data and www.aec.gov.au |
Method & frequency | Publication on www.aec.gov.au | |
Target | Preliminary election results available on election night and progressive count information updated on www.aec.gov.au | |
Result | Met | |
Explanation of result: Election results for all conducted counts were available at www.aec.gov.au on election night. Results were entered following counts each day of the election count period. The Tally Room provided updated results regularly each day. | ||
Lessons management
The AEC prioritises organisational agility and continuous improvement to help meet both the immediate needs of event delivery, and to respond to our operating environment. The AEC adopts a lessons management approach for federal election events to improve the reliability and consistency of our election delivery and services.
PERFORMANCE STATEMENT – KEY ACTIVITY TWO
Intended result 2.3 Accessible and high-quality enrolment and polling services | ||
|---|---|---|
Performance measure | ||
Undertake a lessons management approach to delivering the next federal election | Source | AEC Lessons Management Framework and AEC Election Readiness Framework. |
Method & frequency | Agency-wide qualitative analysis. | |
Target | Lessons from the 2019 federal election implemented at the next federal election. | |
Result | On track to be met | |
Explanation of result: In 2020-21 we continued pursuing the lessons and focus areas identified at the 2019 federal election. We developed a new Lessons Management Framework to support both election and non-election activities. Federal elections are an opportunity to adopt a comprehensive lessons management approach and to continue maturing and strengthening our operations. The AEC's lessons approach works hand-in-hand with other agency frameworks, including the AEC's broader Election Readiness Framework. | ||
Industrial elections and ballots
The AEC conducts industrial elections and ballots under the provisions of the Fair Work Act 2009 and the Fair Work (Registered Organisations) Act 2009.
COVID-19 continues to affect the way the AEC conducts industrial elections and protected action ballots. For this reason, the AEC suspended industrial elections from 24 March 2020 to 30 September 2020, except those elections critical to an organisation’s functions.
Acting in accordance with its statutory obligation, the AEC invoked its power to conduct
these elections differently from the requirements set out in organisations’ rules.
The AEC consulted with the respective organisations and conducted elections to
a revised timetable.
The AEC also reviewed its processes and practices for election delivery to ensure that
industrial elections could be conducted in a COVID-safe environment. Some outcomes from this review included the following:
- a portal was launched in October 2020 to allow the electronic lodgement of nomination forms
- the AEC ceased attending meetings to call for nominations, moving to electronic lodgement process via the portal
- the AEC stopped in-person ballots, and instead conducted ballots by post
- timelines for ballots were extended to account for changes to Australia Post delivery times
- ballot draws were conducted through Microsoft Teams so that stakeholders could witness the ballot draw remotely
- agile scrutiny practices applied so that the Returning Officer could oversee the conduct of the scrutinies remotely
- secure ballot paper transportation was established in accordance with the AEC ballot paper handling policy, so the location of scrutinies could be moved in response to short-notice lockdowns.
PERFORMANCE STATEMENT – KEY ACTIVITY TWO
Intended result 2.4 Industrial election and ballots are designed for the future and delivered with integrity | ||
|---|---|---|
Performance measure | ||
The AEC meets timeframes for key election delivery targets—issuing of election notices, ballot periods, declared results and post-election reports* | Source | AEC Industrial Elections and Ballots management systems and internal records and data. |
Method & frequency | Data mining. | |
Target | ≥98% of target timeframes are met annually. | |
Result | Partly met | |
Explanation of result: The AEC conducted 584 industrial elections and ballots during the year - 324 fewer events than the previous annual reporting period. The number of events was directly impacted by the need to temporarily suspend industrial elections because of the pandemic. Election timeframes were renegotiated to commence after October 2020, aside from a small number of critical industrial elections and protected action ballots that were progressed during the suspension period. This performance measure was substantially met, with 97.3% of agreed or revised timeframes were met, which falls very slightly below the target timeframe of ≥98%. | ||
Election and ballot results are delivered with integrity and withstand scrutiny | Source | Federal Court outcomes. |
Method & frequency | Federal Court outcomes for the year as at reporting date. | |
Target | The AEC will report on the outcomes and number of events in which the AEC’s conduct is challenged before a court. | |
Result | Met | |
Explanation of result: The AEC’s conduct of industrial elections was not challenged in the Federal Court during the reporting period. | ||
*Note that the reporting has not included assessment of timeframes for issuing of election notices due to changes in business processes under the COVID-19 environment.
Footnotes
- * A Senate special count may occur when a vacancy in the Senate (that is not a casual vacancy) should be filled. This is determined by the High Court of Australia sitting as the Court of Disputed Returns.↩
Visit
https://www.transparency.gov.au/annual-reports/australian-electoral-commission/reporting-year/2020-21-6