Advance polling period may be shortened or extended if unforeseen or unavoidable disruption occurs before commencement of advance polling period

1 This section applies if, before the commencement of the advance polling period, there is an unforeseen or unavoidable disruption in any electoral district or districts. 2 The Chief Electoral Officer may direct that the advance polling period in the electoral district or districts be— a shortened to fewer than 12 consecutive days before polling day; or b extended to more than 12 consecutive days before polling day. 3 Before making a direction under subsection (2) , the Chief Electoral Officer must— a consult— i the Prime Minister; and ii the Leader of the Opposition; and iii any person or organisation that in the Chief Electoral Officer’s opinion is able to give information about the scale and duration of the unforeseen or unavoidable disruption; and b be satisfied that the direction is necessary in all of the circumstances. 4 The Chief Electoral Officer must, as soon as is reasonably practicable after making a direction under subsection (2) , give public notice of the direction in any manner that the Chief Electoral Officer considers appropriate. 5 In this section and section 171E , unforeseen or unavoidable disruption has the same meaning as that given in section 195 for sections 195A , 195B , and 195D . Section 171C : inserted , on 20 December 2025 , by section 40 of the Electoral Amendment Act 2025 (2025 No 82).