The federal election is happening on Saturday, May 18. But what if you can’t make it to a polling booth that day?

So if you’re going on a holiday, are ill, or simply won’t be able to travel to a polling place on voting day, here’s what you need to know.

You can vote early either in person or by post if on election day you:

are outside the electorate where you are enrolled to vote

are more than 8km from a polling place

are travelling

are unable to leave your workplace to vote

are seriously ill, infirm or due to give birth shortly (or caring for someone who is)

are a patient in hospital and can’t vote at the hospital

have religious beliefs that prevent you from attending a polling place

are in prison serving a sentence of less than three years or otherwise detained

are a silent elector

have a reasonable fear for your safety.

(Don’t forget: you must have been enrolled by 8:00pm on Thursday, April 18, to vote.)

How can I vote early?

There are four ways you can vote early in this federal election:

• At an early voting centre
• Via a postal vote
• On the phone
• At a mobile polling facility

However, you may not be eligible for all options.

Telephone voting, for example, is offered to Australians who are blind or have low vision, while mobile voting facilities are provided for people living in remote areas of the country or who are currently in hospital, jail or a nursing home.

How do I vote at an early voting centre?

Early voting centres will open around the country on Monday, April 29.

At these centres, you’ll cast your vote in the same way you would at a polling place on election day. You’ll be given a ballot paper to fill out and an official will mark your name off the electoral roll.

To be eligible, the Electoral Act says you must have plans to be interstate, outside of your electoral division or more than 8 kilometres from a polling place on May 18.

You may also be ill or unable to leave your workplace, have religious duties or a reasonable fear for your safety.

However, you won’t be asked to prove your eligibility before you vote — you’ll simply need to state that you are eligible.

In 2016, more than 600 early voting centres were available before the federal election. (FYI: the Australian Electoral Commission (AEC) will release a list of locations soon).

How can I submit a postal vote?

To cast your vote in the mail, you’ll need to apply for a postal vote through the AEC. The cut-off date for this is Wednesday, May 15.

Once you’ve been accepted, you’ll be sent a ballot paper to fill out, along with a return envelope.

You must fill out your vote and have it witnessed by another person either before or on May 18. Then you’ve got 13 days to get it back to the AEC.

If you plan to be a regular postal voter, you can register your details with the AEC and automatically receive your ballot papers in the mail before every election.

What percentage of Australians vote early?

In 2016, a massive 31 per cent of Australians voted early. That amounts to about 4.5 million votes, according to Parliamentary Library calculations.

The majority of those votes were cast at early voting centres, while 1.2 million were submitted via post.

What should I consider before I cast a pre-poll vote?

Early voting can be challenging for swing voters, who rely on the campaign to help make up their mind.

Most political parties recognise this and now design their campaigns to ensure you hear their pitch early,

In the old days, election campaigns used to be very scripted. They had a narrative that developed over the four weeks and culminated in a final pitch to voters just before the election. Obviously that’s less useful when a third of your voters are not sitting around waiting for that.

They have to realise that once the pre-poll begins, a proportion of their constituency vote and they need to have the messages of the day.

So we see a lot of policies come out early now, rather than dribbled out throughout the campaign.

What if I’m currently overseas?

If you’re temporarily living and working overseas, you are not required to vote.

But if you wish to have your say, you can register with the AEC as an overseas voter.

You can then apply for a postal vote or vote in person at select Australian embassies, consulates and high commissions.

Caboolture : Cnr Bertha & Margaret St,

Opening Times

Monday 29 April – Friday 3 May (8:30 –17:30)
Monday 6 May – Thursday 9 May (8:30 –17:30)
Friday 10 May (8:30 –18:00)
Monday 13 May – Tuesday 14 May (8:30 –17:30)
Wednesday 15 May (8:30 –18:00)
Thursday 16 May (8:30 –17:30)
Friday 17 May (8:30 –18:00)

Bribie Island : Bribie Island Orchid Society 156A First Ave,

Opening Times

Monday 29 April – Friday 3 May (8:30 –17:30)
Monday 6 May – Thursday 9 May (8:30 –17:30)
Friday 10 May (8:30 –18:00)
Monday 13 May – Tuesday 14 May (8:30 –17:30)
Wednesday 15 May (8:30 –18:00)
Thursday 16 May (8:30 –17:30)
Friday 17 May (8:30 –18:00)

Burpengary : Heritage Shopping Centre Shop 1, 23-31 Progress Rd,

Opening Times

Monday 6 May – Thursday 9 May (8:30 –17:30)
Friday 10 May (8:30 –18:00)
Saturday 11 May (9:00 –16:00)
Monday 13 May – Tuesday 14 May (8:30 –17:30)
Wednesday 15 May (8:30 –18:00)
Thursday 16 May (8:30 –20:00)
Friday 17 May (8:30 –18:00)

Kallangur : 4-6/1420 Anzac Ave,

Opening Times

Monday 29 April – Friday 3 May (8:30 –17:30)
Monday 6 May – Thursday 9 May (8:30 –17:30)
Friday 10 May (8:30 –18:00)
Monday 13 May – Tuesday 14 May (8:30 –17:30)
Wednesday 15 May (8:30 –18:00)
Thursday 16 May (8:30 –17:30)
Friday 17 May (8:30 –18:00)

Morayfield : Mega Centre Unit 6/379 Morayfield Rd,

Opening Times

Monday 29 April – Friday 3 May (8:30 –17:30)
Monday 6 May – Thursday 9 May (8:30 –17:30)
Friday 10 May (8:30 –18:00)
Saturday 11 May (9:00 –16:00)
Monday 13 May – Tuesday 14 May (8:30 –17:30)
Wednesday 15 May (8:30 –18:00)
Thursday 16 May (8:30 –20:00)
Friday 17 May (8:30 –18:00)

North Lakes : 3-4/5 Discovery Dr,

Opening Times

Monday 29 April – Friday 3 May (8:30 –17:30)
Monday 6 May – Thursday 9 May (8:30 –17:30)
Friday 10 May (8:30 –18:00)
Saturday 11 May (9:00 –16:00)
Monday 13 May – Tuesday 14 May (8:30 –17:30)
Wednesday 15 May (8:30 –18:00)
Thursday 16 May (8:30 –20:00)
Friday 17 May (8:30 –18:00)

Albany Creek : On the Creek 7/691 Albany Creek Rd,

Brisbane City :  549 Queen St,
Opening times
Monday 29 April – Friday 3 May (8:30 –17:30)
Monday 6 May – Thursday 9 May (8:30 –17:30)
Friday 10 May (8:30 –18:00)
Monday 13 May – Tuesday 14 May (8:30 –17:30)
Wednesday 15 May (8:30 –18:00)
Thursday 16 May (8:30 –17:30)
Friday 17 May (8:30 –18:00)

Brisbane City : Brisbane City Hall King George Sq 64 Adelaide St,
Opening times
Monday 6 May – Thursday 9 May (8:30 –17:30)
Friday 10 May (8:30 –18:00)
Saturday 11 May (9:00 –16:00)
Monday 13 May – Tuesday 14 May (8:30 –17:30)
Wednesday 15 May (8:30 –18:00)
Thursday 16 May (8:30 –17:30)
Friday 17 May (8:30 –18:00)

Chermside : Chermside Kedron Community Church cnr Rode Rd & Gympie Rd,
Opening times
Monday 29 April – Friday 3 May (8:30 –17:30)
Monday 6 May – Thursday 9 May (8:30 –17:30)
Friday 10 May (8:30 –18:00)
Monday 13 May – Tuesday 14 May (8:30 –17:30)
Wednesday 15 May (8:30 –18:00)
Thursday 16 May (8:30 –17:30)
Friday 17 May (8:30 –18:00)

Deception Bay : Homemaker Centre 3/657 Deception Bay Rd,
Opening times
Monday 6 May – Thursday 9 May (8:30 –17:30)
Friday 10 May (8:30 –18:00)
Monday 13 May – Tuesday 14 May (8:30 –17:30)
Wednesday 15 May (8:30 –18:00)
Thursday 16 May (8:30 –17:30)
Friday 17 May (8:30 –18:00)

Kippa-Ring : 244 Anzac Ave,
Opening times
Monday 29 April – Friday 3 May (8:30 –17:30)
Monday 6 May – Thursday 9 May (8:30 –17:30)
Friday 10 May (8:30 –18:00)
Saturday 11 May (9:00 –16:00)
Monday 13 May – Tuesday 14 May (8:30 –17:30)
Wednesday 15 May (8:30 –18:00)
Thursday 16 May (8:30 –20:00)
Friday 17 May (8:30 –18:00)

North Lakes : 3-4/5 Discovery Dr,
Opening times
Monday 29 April – Friday 3 May (8:30 –17:30)
Monday 6 May – Thursday 9 May (8:30 –17:30)
Friday 10 May (8:30 –18:00)
Saturday 11 May (9:00 –16:00)
Monday 13 May – Tuesday 14 May (8:30 –17:30)
Wednesday 15 May (8:30 –18:00)
Thursday 16 May (8:30 –20:00)
Friday 17 May (8:30 –18:00)

Sandgate : Louden Street Shop 3 80 Loudon St,
Opening times
Monday 6 May – Thursday 9 May (8:30 –17:30)
Friday 10 May (8:30 –18:00)
Monday 13 May – Tuesday 14 May (8:30 –17:30)
Wednesday 15 May (8:30 –18:00)
Thursday 16 May (8:30 –17:30)
Friday 17 May (8:30 –18:00)

Strathpine : 429 Gympie Rd,
Opening times
Monday 29 April – Friday 3 May (8:30 –17:30)
Monday 6 May – Thursday 9 May (8:30 –17:30)
Friday 10 May (8:30 –18:00)
Saturday 11 May (9:00 –16:00)
Monday 13 May – Tuesday 14 May (8:30 –17:30)
Wednesday 15 May (8:30 –18:00)
Thursday 16 May (8:30 –20:00)
Friday 17 May (8:30 –18:00)

Beerwah : Beerwah Community Hall 25 Peachester Rd,
Opening times
Monday 13 May – Tuesday 14 May (8:30 –17:30)
Wednesday 15 May (8:30 –18:00)
Thursday 16 May (8:30 –17:30)
Friday 17 May (8:30 –18:00)

Caloundra : 57 Bulcock Street 57 Bulcock St,
Opening times
Monday 6 May – Thursday 9 May (8:30 –17:30)
Friday 10 May (8:30 –18:00)
Monday 13 May – Tuesday 14 May (8:30 –17:30)
Wednesday 15 May (8:30 –18:00)
Thursday 16 May (8:30 –17:30)
Friday 17 May (8:30 –18:00)

Caloundra : Caloundra Community Centre 58a Queen St,
Opening times
Monday 29 April – Friday 3 May (8:30 –17:30)
Monday 6 May – Thursday 9 May (8:30 –17:30)
Friday 10 May (8:30 –18:00)
Monday 13 May – Tuesday 14 May (8:30 –17:30)
Wednesday 15 May (8:30 –18:00)
Thursday 16 May (8:30 –17:30)
Friday 17 May (8:30 –18:00)

Maleny : Maleny Community Centre 23 Maple St,
Opening times
Monday 6 May – Thursday 9 May (8:30 –17:30)
Friday 10 May (8:30 –18:00)
Monday 13 May – Tuesday 14 May (8:30 –17:30)
Wednesday 15 May (8:30 –18:00)
Thursday 16 May (8:30 –17:30)
Friday 17 May (8:30 –18:00)

Maroochydore : A/64-70 Aerodrome Rd,
Opening times
Monday 29 April – Friday 3 May (8:30 –17:30)
Monday 6 May – Thursday 9 May (8:30 –17:30)
Friday 10 May (8:30 –18:00)
Monday 13 May – Tuesday 14 May (8:30 –17:30)
Wednesday 15 May (8:30 –18:00)
Thursday 16 May (8:30 –17:30)
Friday 17 May (8:30 –18:00)

Maroochydore : 4/54 Baden Powell St,
Opening timesMonday 29 April – Friday 3 May (8:30 –17:30)
Monday 6 May – Thursday 9 May (8:30 –17:30)
Friday 10 May (8:30 –18:00)
Monday 13 May – Tuesday 14 May (8:30 –17:30)
Wednesday 15 May (8:30 –18:00)
Thursday 16 May (8:30 –17:30)
Friday 17 May (8:30 –18:00)

Nambour :  CWA Hall Nambour 10 Short St,
Opening times
Monday 6 May – Thursday 9 May (8:30 –17:30)
Friday 10 May (8:30 –18:00)
Monday 13 May – Tuesday 14 May (8:30 –17:30)
Wednesday 15 May (8:30 –18:00)
Thursday 16 May (8:30 –17:30)
Friday 17 May (8:30 –18:00)

Warana : Life Church 6 Kawana Island Blvd,
Opening times
Monday 6 May – Thursday 9 May (8:30 –17:30)
Friday 10 May (8:30 –18:00)
Monday 13 May – Tuesday 14 May (8:30 –17:30)
Wednesday 15 May (8:30 –18:00)
Thursday 16 May (8:30 –17:30)
Friday 17 May (8:30 –18:00)