A special vote is cast by someone voting outside their own electorate, from overseas, or from hospital. Someone who enrols after Writ Day on 4 October 2026, but no later than the enrolment deadline on 25 October, may also need to cast one. Each special vote is checked individually before it is counted, so they are added about two weeks after election day and can shift seats.
A special vote is cast by someone voting outside their own electorate, from overseas, or from hospital. Someone who enrols after Writ Day on 4 October 2026, but no later than the enrolment deadline on 25 October, may also need to cast one. Each special vote is checked individually before it is counted, so they are added about two weeks after election day and can shift seats.
Hundreds of thousands are cast every election.
Each is checked to confirm the voter was eligible.
They are counted in the official result, not the preliminary one.
They have changed seat numbers in past elections.
A special vote arrives in an envelope with a declaration on it. Officials must confirm the person was enrolled and voted only once before the ballot is separated from the envelope and counted, which keeps the vote secret while still verifying it.
Special votes are not a random sample of the country, so they often lean slightly differently from election-night votes. In close elections, that has been enough to move a seat or two between parties.
Does a special vote count less?
No. It counts exactly the same. It just takes longer to verify.
How long until final results?
About two to three weeks after election day.