Australian Electoral Office Act 1973

What This Law Does

The Australian Electoral Office Act 1973 creates a formal government body — the Australian Electoral Office — to manage and administer Australia's electoral (voting) laws. Before this Act, electoral administration existed under different titles and structures. This law consolidates and formalises it.

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Who Is Involved?

The Act establishes a small leadership team called "Officers" (a defined term in the Act):

• Chief Australian Electoral Officer — the head of the Office, who controls it under the direction of the Minister (a Cabinet minister responsible for electoral matters)
• Deputy Chief Australian Electoral Officer — assists the Chief Officer
• An Australian Electoral Officer for each State — one per State, handling State-level electoral administration

All are appointed by the Governor-General (Australia's head of state, acting on the advice of the government).

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What Does the Office Actually Do?

• It carries out all the functions, powers and duties given to it by any Commonwealth or Territory law relating to elections
• The Chief Officer advises the Minister on electoral policy, legislation and procedures
• Importantly, the Act updates old references in other laws — anywhere a law previously referred to "Chief Electoral Officer for the Commonwealth" or "Commonwealth Electoral Officer for a State," those references now automatically point to the new Officers under this Act