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A last-minute change to voting rules has been made so people who have tested positive to COVID will be able to vote over the phone this election.
It includes people who have tested positive since last Friday night and means more people will be eligible to vote over the phone.
But how exactly does it all work?
Who can vote over the phone?
Originally, the rules said only people who tested positive for COVID after Tuesday night (May 17) and would be in isolation for polling day on Saturday May 21 would be able to use the phone system.
After an uproar — including threats of a legal challenge — the Australian Electoral Commission recommended on Friday morning that phone voting should be extended to those who have tested positive since last Friday (May 13) at 6pm, in cases where they have not voted early or applied for a postal vote.
The federal government accepted the recommendation shortly after it was made.
Voters who are blind or have low vision will also be able to vote over the phone, and have been able to register for the service since May 9.
Close contacts without symptoms cannot use the phone service, because they are able to vote in person.
Do you have to prove you have COVID?
Yes. If you need to vote this way, you will need to register first.
You can register online on the Australian Electoral Commission's website, and will need to provide proof that you have tested positive to COVID after the deadline last Friday.
Details of a positive RAT or PCR test, including a reference number and serial number if available, will need to be provided.
Voters will need to confirm their details on the electoral roll, complete a questionnaire and choose a PIN before receiving a telephone voting registration number by SMS or email.
How long will it take?
After registering and receiving the number, electors can call in to vote until 6pm on Friday, or between 8am and 6pm on Saturday.
The Australian Electoral Commission has strongly urged people to prepare before calling to vote by checking relevant ballot papers and deciding preferences first, saying phone voting is an emergency measure.
The commission has warned there could be long waits because its staff need to follow a process to keep votes secure, which could take a while — especially if voters are not well prepared.
By using a registration number, votes remain secret because the assistant at the other end of the line will not know the voter's name or address.
The assistant will record the vote onto hard-copy ballot papers, read it back, transfer them into an envelope and place them into a secure ballot box.
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