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Chief Electoral Office

Commonwealth Electoral Office · Electoral Office

1902 – 1973

Renamed Australian Electoral Office in 1973.

Commonwealth electoral administration headed by the Chief Electoral Officer, which conducted federal elections and referendums and maintained the Commonwealth electoral rolls through electoral officers in each state and divisional returning officers.

Names over time

  1. Chief Electoral Office1902–1973
  2. Australian Electoral Office1973–1984

How it came into existence

Established under the Commonwealth Electoral Act 1902, which created the office of Chief Electoral Officer, from the electoral branch of the Department of Home Affairs; the first federal election in 1901 had been run under state laws and machinery.

Legislation: Commonwealth Electoral Act 1902; Commonwealth Electoral Act 1918

Changes during its life

  1. 14 November 1916Moved to the Department of Home and Territories on the abolition of the Department of Home Affairs.
  2. 1918The Commonwealth Electoral Act 1918 replaced the 1902 Act and introduced preferential voting for the House of Representatives.
  3. 10 December 1928Moved to the new Department of Home Affairs.
  4. 12 April 1932Moved to the Department of the Interior.
  5. 26 April 1939Moved to the new Department of the Interior.
  6. 19 December 1972Moved to the Department of Services and Property on the abolition of the Department of the Interior.

How it ended

Became the Australian Electoral Office in 1973, headed by the Chief Australian Electoral Officer.

Main functions

  • Conduct of federal elections and referendums
  • Compilation of the Commonwealth electoral rolls
  • Administration of compulsory enrolment (from 1911) and voting (from 1924)
  • Support for electoral redistributions

Where it sits

Last in the portfolio of Department of Services and Property.

Lineage

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Sources

Some dates or links for this organisation are not fully confirmed. Corrections are welcome.