69Requirements for voting

69  Requirements for voting

 (1) The following requirements for voting must be substantially observed:

 (a) the *elector must sign the *vote certificate unless the elector is registered on the grounds specified under paragraph 184A(2)(e) or (f) of the CEA. If the elector is registered on those grounds, a person must sign on behalf of the voter and indicate why the person is signing on the voter’s behalf;

 (b) the elector must mark:

 (i) his or her date of birth on the vote certificate; and

 (ii) his or her vote on the ballot‑paper in a manner provided for in section 70, fold the ballot‑paper, place it in the *certificate envelope and fasten the envelope;

 (c) the elector must:

 (i) in the case of an elector who is not an *overseas elector—post or deliver the envelope to the *appropriate DRO; and

 (ii) in the case of an overseas elector:

 (A) post or deliver the envelope to the *appropriate DRO; or

 (B) give the envelope to an *Assistant Returning Officer who has been appointed in respect of a place outside Australia by 12 noon (in the place where the Assistant Returning Officer is) on the seventh day before the close of the poll;

 (d) if the elector cannot read or is so disabled as to be unable to vote without assistance, a person chosen by the elector may, according to the directions of the elector, complete the vote certificate and do for the elector any act required by paragraph (b) or (c);

 (e) directions under paragraph (d) may be given by reference to a how‑to‑vote card.

 (2) Despite paragraph (1)(c), where a ballot‑paper would be unlikely to reach the *appropriate DRO before the close of the poll, the envelope containing the ballot‑paper may, before the close of the poll, be addressed to, and posted or delivered to, any AEO or any DRO or Assistant DRO.

 (3) An officer to whom an envelope containing a ballot‑paper is posted or delivered under subsection (2) must deal with the envelope and ballot‑paper as required by sections 74 and 75.