Australia’s public vote on same-sex marriage is now open to those living abroad.

Voting will continue until November 7, when postal votes will be tallied alongside the electronic and phone votes with a result announced ten days later on November 17 via the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) website .

Those voting from abroad must fill out an online form requesting their ‘Secure Access Code’ to vote digitally.

Alternatively, people may call an information line to receive their Secure Access Code allowing them to cast their vote.

To verify one’s identity, the ABS will require details from a driving licence or passport before delivering the Secure Access Code.

After requesting their code, users will receive a sixteen-digit Secure Access Code which will allow them to complete the survey online or by using an automated phone service.

Although the ABS run plebiscite is costing the Australian government $122 million to run, the result of the vote is not binding. Consequently, it will not require the government to legislate for same-sex marriage should the result be in favour of allowing two people of the same sex to marry.

Haven’t received your Marriage Equality Postal Survey? You can request a replacement one here ➡️➡️➡️ https://t.co/djspXSOd0f #VoteYes pic.twitter.com/pJiuyt0C0Y

— AU Marriage Equality (@AMEquality) September 25, 2017

If someone didn’t receive a postal vote or if it was damaged, they can now request a new one here until October 20.

People are being encouraged to return their postal votes by October 27 at the latest.

Voting Has Started

People around Australia have already begun returning their postal votes, and now that the tele-vote is in operation, it’s time for Australian’s living abroad to fulfil their civic duty and cast their vote.

One London based Twitter user noted that casting their Yes vote online made them “so emotional”.

https://twitter.com/tjrnichols/status/912262430817996800

Some religious leaders have come out in favour of same-sex marriage, with one priest maintaining that voting yes marriage and the marriage between a man and woman enshrined in Anglican Christian tradition are not mutually exclusive.

“We can both hold that marriage is between a man and a woman for Christians, for Anglican Christians, and vote yes in the postal survey for civil marriage between any consenting adult,” said Fr Rod Bower in a video post on Twitter.

“I see no contradiction between them.”

#Auspol #Christians can #VoteYes for #HumanRights #SSM #MarriageEquality pic.twitter.com/8wMO8mZAkT

— The Venerable Canon Rod Bower (@FrBower) September 25, 2017

Another priest from Brisbane was photographed sending off his postal vote while holding a Yes Equality poster.

The Very Reverend @DeanPeterCatt of St John's Cathedral at Anglican Diocese of Brisbane voting #YESforEquality #PostYourYes #VoteYes pic.twitter.com/E7NUvdURFP

— AU Marriage Equality (@AMEquality) September 25, 2017

Do you know Australian’s who are eligible to vote in the plebiscite? Encourage them to register for their Secure Access Code and vote online.