Carolyn Halliday

Australian Electoral Commission

The AEC has been around since 1984 and prior to that was known as the Australian Electoral Office. We run Australia's federal elections, by-elections, referendums and some industrial and commercial events as well. People often ask what we do in between events and the answer is plenty! We maintain the electoral roll, redraw electoral boundaries and conduct industrial and commercial elections. The AEC also provides a range of ongoing electoral education and awareness programs from school age children visiting our electoral education centre to direct engagement with people living in remote areas of Australia. For the more politically savvy we also play a role in the disclosure of the financial dealings of political parties and others involved in the electoral process. The biggest thing that the AEC does in between events though is to plan for the next one - careful planning of what is the biggest peacetime logistical exercise conducted in Australia without a known date. Authorised by the Electoral Commissioner, Canberra.