Voting in pipeline
THE significance of the same- sex marriage postal survey is not lost on Australian Defence Force personnel deployed overseas.
The Federal Government is facilitating alternative voting measures to ensure everyone can have their say.
While ADF personnel are always encouraged to vote on important democratic decisions before they deploy, hundreds were already on operations when the pending same- sex marriage vote was ordered.
Head of administration and personnel at Australia’s main operating base in the Middle East Region, Wing Commander Jodie Hatch, said the ADF followed elections and looming democratic votes closely to ensure everyone working internationally could have their say.
She said personnel deployed in the Middle East Region had three options for the same- sex survey: asking a close confidant to fill out the form on their behalf, changing their address so their survey form is sent to their working location and then posted back, or voting via a secure code online through the Australian Bureau of Statistics website.
“We’re a democratic country so everybody is entitled to have their say on any democratic issue,” WGCDR Hatch said. “We’ll do whatever we can to help people that vote.
“We make sure that everyone within theatre has as much information as they possibly can and with regards to the same- sex marriage vote, we put out specific information theatre- wide from facilitate this headquarters to ensure people knew what their options were.”
WGCDR Hatch said the ADF would be prepared to facilitate future electoral processes while operations continue in the MER.
“Whatever happens back in Australia, when elections are called, we’ll be ready to make sure everybody in theatre has the opportunity to participate in the vote,” she said.
ADF personnel are expected to vote during the Queensland state election.