The Commonwealth definition of fraud is:
'dishonestly obtaining a benefit, or causing a loss, by deception or other means.'
Electoral fraud is defined by the AEC as:
'a breach of the Commonwealth Electoral Act 1918 or related legislation with intent to obtain a benefit for which the person is not otherwise entitled to or to cause detriment to the Commonwealth.'
The act of fraud requires intent and must be due to more than carelessness, accident or error.
In understanding and applying this definition of fraud, it is important to recognise:
The following non-compliance and misuse offences under the Commonwealth Electoral Act 1918 would not typically be considered electoral fraud:
These are dealt with by the AEC under the standard business process.
You can report a suspected fraud by one of these channels:
The AEC commits to treating a complaint seriously and in line with the Complaints Management Policy.
You can remain anonymous, but please keep in mind that your decision for anonymity may limit our ability to conduct a complete investigation. If you choose the online reporting channel you will be required to provide an email address.
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