Stephen Cremonini chatted merrily with two other Australians of Indian origin as he waited to cast his ballot at the Australian Consulate here for the upcoming federal elections slated for July 2.
As the voting process began, Mr. Cremonini marked his preferences on the ballot paper which ran into pages, taking nearly five minutes before finally folding the ballot, sealing the envelope, and dropping it in the ballot box.
Mr. Cremonini is an Australian medical student on a two-month exchange programme in Chennai.
Two other Australians of Indian origin too voted at the booth set up by the Australian Consulateat its office on the Express Avenue premises here. Any Australian living or travelling in India can vote at the office till the day of polls Down Under.
It’s compulsory
“We have an arrangement where people can vote overseas for a period of two weeks up to the elections. We have set up this polling station so that Australian citizens can come here and vote. Australians have to compulsorily vote. If they fail to vote, they get fined. So it is important that we provide them this opportunity at the Consulate,” Sean Kelly, Australian Consul-General for South India, told reporters on Tuesday.
Explaining the polling process in Australia, Mr. Kelly said the country follows a preferential system of voting where voters need to mark their candidates in order of their choice. “Those who are elected are voted to power with more than 50 per cent of the votes, which gives better results,” he said.
Voting hours at the Consulate will be from 9 am to 5 pm Monday to Friday from June 20 till July 1. On election day, July 2, voters will be able to cast their ballots from 8.30 am to 3.30 pm (IST),” the Consul-General said.
Voters can contact the Consulate at 044-45921300.
