Referendums Act 1997

How can you vote?

There are several options:

1. In person at a polling booth on polling day (8am–6pm)
2. Pre-poll voting at a pre-poll voting office in the days before polling day
3. Mobile polling booths — for people in remote areas or in hospitals/care facilities
4. Declaration vote — a special envelope-based vote used when you're voting outside your home area, or there's an issue with your enrolment
5. Postal vote — you can request a ballot paper be sent to you if you can't attend in person
6. Electronically assisted voting — available for people who need assistance

The 'Yes/No' arguments

Members of Parliament (MLAs) can submit written arguments (up to 1,000 words each) for or against the proposal. The Electoral Commission must:

• Publish these arguments in a statewide newspaper at least twice before polling day
• Post a pamphlet to every voter if a majority of the authorising MPs request it
• Put them on the commission's website
• Ensure neither side's argument is visually favoured over the other

Limits on government spending

The government cannot spend public money promoting one side of the argument — it can only pay for the official publication of arguments, informational materials, and staff costs.

What if something goes wrong?

The Act has safeguards:

• Polls can be suspended for up to 4 hours in emergencies (riot risk, health emergency, etc.)
• Polls can be adjourned to another day (within 34 days) if a natural disaster or emergency prevents voting
• If a polling booth runs out of ballot papers, officials can reproduce them on the spot
• Errors in writs or documents can be corrected by official gazette notice

Scrutineers

Each MP can appoint scrutineers (independent observers) who are entitled to watch the voting process, inspect ballot boxes, observe vote counting, and object to anyone's entitlement to vote.

Who does this affect?

• Every Queensland voter — this law determines how and when you vote in any state referendum
• Electoral Commission Queensland — responsible for running the whole process
• MPs — they control what arguments are officially published
• Prisoners serving 3+ years — explicitly excluded from voting