How can you run for election to be a member of parliament?
Hi Ashtyn, thanks for your question.
If you want to stand for election for the Australian Parliament you need to follow some rules set out by the Australian Constitution and the Australian Electoral Commission.
Section 44 of the Constitution states that you may not be a member of parliament if you are found guilty of a serious crime, bankrupt, or in a job where you already receive money from the Parliament. You also have to be a citizen of Australia, and not of any other country.
If you want to be a candidate at an election, you would also need to register with the Australian Electoral Commission. They have further rules for candidates, such as a minimum age of 18 and Australian citizenship.
People voting in a federal election
Australian Electoral Commission
People voting in a federal election
Australian Electoral Commission
Description
A row of 6 large, purple and white cardboard voting booths. There are 3 people standing at the booths with their backs to the camera. They are looking down and filling in their ballot papers. Each booth is screened off from the neighbouring booths so that voters cannot see each others ballot paper.
Permission should be sought from the Australian Electoral Commission (AEC) for third-party or commercial uses of this image. To contact the AEC email: media@aec.gov.au or phone: 13 23 26.