Commonwealth Electoral Act 1918

If any voter satisfies the presiding officer that his or her sight is so impaired or that the voter is so physically incapacitated or illiterate that he or she is unable to vote without assistance, the presiding officer shall permit a person appointed by the voter to enter an unoccupied compartment of the booth with the voter, and mark and deposit the voter’s ballot paper.

A presiding officer who is visiting a patient under section 224 for the purpose of taking the patient’s vote must explain to the patient the effect of subsection (1) of this section.

If any such voter fails to appoint a person in pursuance of subsection (1) the presiding officer or a polling official, in the presence of such scrutineers as are present, or, if there be no scrutineers present, then in the presence of:

another person who is either the presiding officer or a polling official; or

if the voter so desires, in the presence of a person appointed by such voter, instead of the presiding officer or a polling official;

Without limiting the generality of subsection (2), a voter to whom that subsection applies may indicate to the presiding officer or polling official the manner in which the voter wishes the officer or official to mark his or her ballot paper by presenting to the officer or official a statement in writing (which may be, or include, a how‑to‑vote card) that specifies the manner in which the ballot paper is to be marked.

Where subsection (1) applies in relation to an absent or provisional voter, the presiding officer or a polling official shall:

fill in the declaration referred to in subsection 222(1) or (1A) or 235(2), as the case may be, with the required particulars as requested by the voter;

read the declaration to the voter;

complete and attest the declaration; and

cause the declaration to be witnessed by a scrutineer or, if no scrutineer is present, by another person who is either the presiding officer or a polling official.