Same-Sex Marriage Survey: How To Change Your Address

So, you forgot to change your address for the same-sex marriage vote despite all the warnings? DON’T PANIC! It turns out that you can still request a change of address from the ABS website. Here’s how it’s done.

How to change your address for the Same Sex Marriage Survey

The ABS requires your current address so it can send out the survey form. If you forgot to update your residence before the deadline, it’s still possible to make the required changes. Simply head to the ABS website and fill in the details. A replacement form will then be sent to your nominated address after 18 September 2017.

Note that you still need to actually be on the Australian electoral roll to participate. The deadline for this already passed on August 24. Don’t say we didn’t warn you.

Naturally, requesting an address change will also invalidate your original form. (Each form has a unique bar code.) So nobody gets to vote twice. Here is the confirmation email that you will receive from the ABS:

Your request for the survey to be sent to a new address has been actioned. Please note however that as the original mail file for the survey has now closed, you may still receive a survey form to your original address. This form will now be invalid, so please do not use it. A survey form to your newly advised address will be sent after 18 September.

Alarmingly, there do not appear to be any security checks in place against deliberate misuse of this system. What’s to stop somebody changing the address of another person just to invalidate their vote? All they would need to know is your full name and date of birth (you do not need to provide any other form of identification on the ABS website.) Your original form could be invalid and you’d be none the wiser.

We’ve contacted the ABS and will update the article when we know more.