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Casual employment categories

Office administration

Office assistants are engaged on a 'needs' basis to assist permanent staff on election related tasks. Hours may be temporary or casual. Only persons available during normal business hours for extended periods are advised to apply. Events include NT Legislative Assembly and NT Local Government elections, information stands at shows, citizenship ceremonies, and fee-for-service elections.

Workloads vary and there are no guarantees as to the nature or duration of the work on a particular day. Casual office assistants are engaged at the manager’s discretion and may not be required for duty after a specific task is completed. As a general rule, office assistants work during normal business hours; however, due to deadlines imposed during an election there may be a requirement to work during evenings, weekends and public holidays.

A postal voting officer issues ballot papers to voters who have applied for a postal vote. Postal voting officer positions can be located in Darwin and regional centres throughout the Territory and usually involve temporary employment for two weeks prior to election day. Officers work during normal business hours; however, may be required to work during evenings, weekends and public holidays to meet election deadlines.

Mobile voting teams

Mobile voting electoral officials may be required for one day’s mobile voting in urban hospitals, care facilities and correctional institutions, or up to seven days visiting mostly Aboriginal communities in remote areas. Remote voting takes place in the two weeks prior to, and on election day, in accordance with a published timetable.

Persons expressing an interest in this type of electoral work must be able to demonstrate cultural awareness and sensitivity, be able to work as part of a team, and have the ability and willingness to travel in light aircraft, four wheel drive vehicles or boats.

Remote voting team positions

The remote voting team leader is responsible for managing the team and the conduct of voting at all locations on the schedule.

Responsibilities include:

  • checking and receipting all election materials
  • inspection and set-up of each voting centre or location
  • supervising team members
  • conducting the count of ballot papers
  • reconciling, packing and returning election materials.

The remote voting team deputy leader is employed to issue ballot papers and to assist the team leader with voting and counting duties; including, providing relief for the team leader as required.

The remote voting team member is employed to issue ballot papers. They also assist the team leader with conducting the count and with packaging and returning election materials.

Community electoral assistants are highly sought after to provide local language interpretation. A speaker of an Aboriginal language who is able to translate and transcribe their language accurately from prescribed English material can help electoral officials communicate clear, accurate, and timely voting information. This work may also include assisting in the development of support materials like posters and radio or television advertisements targeted at remote communities.

A community electoral assistant must also be able to make decisions about what to translate and what to reject - sound judgment is therefore essential. A keen interest in community affairs is a major advantage. It is vital that community electoral assistants have strong analytical and interpretive skills to be able to produce accurate translations.

Urban voting team positions

Urban voting team members may be required for one day's work (or more) and conduct voting in urban institutions such as:

  • Aged care facilities (nursing homes, retirement villages)
  • Correctional institutions
  • Hospitals

Early voting centres (EVCs)

An early voting centre is a place appointed by the Commission where electors can vote prior to election day. Early voting centres open in the two weeks leading up to an election in Alice Springs, Darwin and regional locations throughout the Territory.

Early voting centre positions

The early voting centre manager is responsible for managing voting centre staff and the conduct of voting.

Responsibilities include:

  • checking and receipting all election materials
  • inspection and set-up of the voting centre
  • supervising staff members
  • conducting the count of ballot papers
  • reconciling, packing and returning election materials.

The deputy manager is employed, mainly in larger EVCs to assist the manager with voting and counting duties. The deputy manager may provide relief for other electoral staff as required.

EVC officers working at a voting centre are advised of the hours of duty when an offer of employment is made. An EVC officer issues votes to electors voting before election day.

Election day voting centres (EDVCs)

Election day voting centres open on the day set on the writ as election day for NT Legislative Assembly elections and the date set by the Minister for NT Local Government (Council) elections.

Election day voting centre positions

The election day voting centre manager (aka officer-in-charge (OIC)) is responsible for the management and the conduct of voting at a voting centre.

Responsibilities include:

  • inspection and set-up of the voting centre
  • checking and receipting all election materials
  • supervising staff members
  • conducting the count of ballot papers (after 6:00 pm)
  • reconciling, packing and returning election materials.

The deputy manager is employed, mainly in larger voting centres to assist the manager with voting and counting duties. The deputy manager may provide relief for other electoral staff as required.

The duties of a declaration vote officer includes issuing ballot papers to electors who:

  • are absent from their enrolled division on election day (absent vote)
  • cannot be found on the electoral roll for the division the voting centre is located in (unenrolled vote)
  • cannot be found on the electoral roll and claim to be enrolled for another division (absent vote)
  • have already been marked off the electoral roll.

EDVC officers working at a voting entre are advised of the hours of duty when an offer of employment is made. Work can commence as early as 7:00 am and officers are required to remain on duty after 6:00 pm until work at the voting centre is completed (i.e. the count of ballot papers and packing-up the voting centre).

An enquiry officer attends to the needs of voters waiting in the queue, assists voters that need help with voting and assists with the count of ballot papers after the voting centre closes.