Australian Capital Territory Electoral Commission


The Australian Capital Territory Electoral Commission, branded Elections ACT, is the agency of the Government of the Australian Capital Territory with responsibility for the conduct of elections and referendums for the unicameral ACT Legislative Assembly; the determination of electoral boundaries for the ACT; and the provision of electoral advice and services to government and on-government agencies. The responsibilities and roles of the Commission are set out in the 1992 Electoral Act and subsequent amendments.

Structure and Staffing

The ACT Electoral Commission comprises three statutory office holders - a part-time Chairperson, a full-time Electoral Commissioner and another part-time member. The Commissioner has the powers of a Chief Executive under the Public Sector Management Act. At election times the Commissioner seconds additional staff from the ACT Public Service and from other Australian electoral authorities and employs casual staff under the Electoral Act. For administrative purposes, the ACT Electoral Commission comes under the Justice and Community Safety portfolio, with the ACT Attorney General, Simon Corbell, as the responsible Minister.