Acknowledgement and Declaration of Key

Obligations upon Engagement

In addition to 202A Undertaking
Relevant legislation
Archives Act 1983
Commonwealth Electoral Act 1918
Crimes Act 1914

Criminal Code Act 1995

Privacy Act 1988
Work Health and Safety Act 2011

Public Governance,
Performance and Accountability
Act 2013

Privacy statement: The information collected in this document will be used for the purpose of enabling the Australian
Electoral Commission to carry out its responsibilities as an employer under the Public Service Act 1999, its Enterprise
Agreement, the Fair Work Act 2009, and related Commonwealth employment legislation and taxation law. In addition,
certain information is made available in a de-identified format to the APS Employment Database for reporting purposes.

Acceptance declaration
Initial each declaration
I acknowledge that, in recognition of the requirement for political neutrality by the Australian
Electoral Commission (AEC), a condition of my engagement is to maintain political neutrality
during the period of my engagement with the AEC.
I understand that I am required to take reasonable steps to avoid any conflict of interest (real
or apparent) in connection with my engagement with the AEC. I understand that this requires
me to notify my manager/supervisor in a timely manner of any circumstance that may give
rise to a real or apparent conflict of interest, including any other employment I may engage in.
I declare that I am not currently publicly active in political affairs and do not intend to publicly
engage in such activities during my engagement with the AEC. Should a situation arise
during my engagement where I wish to publicly engage in political activities, or where there
may be a perception that I am involved in political activities, I will discuss the matter with my
manager/supervisor immediately.
I declare that I have not provided false or misleading information or documents, or omitted to
provide pertinent information or documents, to the AEC or to any other person or organisation
acting on behalf of the AEC1, in connection with my engagement by the AEC.
I understand that I am required to take reasonable care for my own health and safety and to
take reasonable care to ensure my own acts or omissions do not adversely affect other
persons. I also understand that I am required to follow the AEC's reasonable instructions,
policies and procedures on Workplace Health and Safety.
I understand my obligation to perform my duties in a manner that ensures the security,
integrity and accountability of all ballot papers that are in my possession or with which I may
come into contact (refer over).
Temporary election staff

Witness

Full name

Full name

Signature

Signature

Date

Date

This includes persons or organisations conducting health, security or character checks on behalf of the AEC.

AEC Ballot Paper Principles

Expected behaviours to uphold the Ballot Paper Principles

Acceptable

Not acceptable

SECURITY

Placing the ballot papers in the ballot paper secure

zone (BPSZ) when leaving your issuing point
BPSZs are only accessible to authorised persons
Ensuring there is a ballot box guard in polling places
at all times
The ballot boxes are in sight of and within 1 metre of
the ballot box guard at all times
Ballot paper parcels, packages and ballot boxes
secured with tamper-evident tape or security seals
Ballot papers are transported in a fully enclosed
vehicle
Using current AEC-issued materials for ballot paper
handling

Leaving ballot papers unattended at a polling place

issuing point
Accessing BPSZs when not authorised to do so
Not appointing a ballot box guard
Ballot box guard not keeping an eye on the ballot
papers
Not using tamper-evident tape or security seals to
secure ballot paper parcels, packages and ballot
boxes
Not using a fully enclosed vehicle to transport ballot
papers note it is not acceptable to transport ballot
papers on the back of a ute.
Using obsolete or non-AEC materials for ballot paper
handling

INTEGRITY

Putting your initials in the circle on the ballot paper

just before it is issued to the voter
Asking the voter the 3 questions as they are written
on the instructions.
Parcelling and packaging ballot papers according to
instructions
When issuing declaration votes ensure you have
signed the declaration envelope and it is completed
correctly
Ballot boxes only being opened in accordance with
the Electoral Act.
Checking and ensuring that the security seals of
ballot boxes and ballot paper transport containers
are the same as on the seal record prior to opening
Ensuring all tracking / chain of custody
documentation is completed fully and accurately

Pre-initialling ballot papers when it isnt being issued

to a voter
Not asking the 3 questions word for word
Haphazardly packaging ballot papers
Not signing the declaration envelope
Opening ballot boxes pre-maturely i.e. ballot boxes
held in polling places being opened prior to 6pm on
polling day
Not checking the security seals of ballot boxes and
ballot paper transport containers against the seal
record prior to opening
Not signing a tracking form when handing over or
receiving ballot papers

ACCOUNTABILITY

Doing a check count of the ballot papers given to

you and ensuring it is accurately recorded
Completing the EF008 certified list cover sheet
correctly
Completing all ballot paper worksheets in the
Returns correctly
Ensuring all tracking documentation, labels and
other election records are completed correctly and
retained as an official record
Addressing and escalating issues relating to ballot
papers and other election material to a supervisor
immediately
Photo identification is shown when collecting ballot
material prior to polling day

Not doing a check count of ballot papers

Not filling out the EF008 properly
Not maintaining and filling out the ballot paper
worksheets correctly
Disposing of material without authorisation, or
including material for disposal that should be retained
Ignoring possible issues with ballot papers or other
secure election material, or assuming that the issue is
someone elses problem.
Identification is not shown when collecting ballot
material prior to polling day, or a third party is sent to
collect the material.

Acknowledgement and declaration of key obligations upon engagement

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