How To Fill In Your Postal Survey Form (And Not Stuff It Up)
Make your vote count!
Seems pretty straightforward, right? You get a form, which has one question and two possible answers. You fill in your answer, and you return the form. It’s a no-brainer!
Well, there are actually tonnes of little ways you can accidentally fuck up your postal survey form, and thus make your vote ineligible for the count. That would suck, because we need as many Yes votes as we can get.
So, here are some How To Nots to help you get that vote in on time and correct — because #ItsTime for Marriage Equality, fam.
Only Mark (Inside) One Answer Box
Your survey will arrive in the mail like this:
To fill in, you should only mark one box. So you can mark your yes box with a tick:
With a cross:
or by filling in the wee Yes box:
But you can only mark one box, you can’t mark both — and like, it’s one question, make up your mind already…
and you cannot mark outside the box, or your vote may be invalid!
Don’t Tamper With The Question Itself
I know, I know, some of you have an issue with the “same-sex” wording of the question that the government has chosen for the postal survey.
However, you cannot cross out or change the wording of the question on your survey form. This will make the form invalid!
Just fill that sucker in and grumble about the wording to your mates later.
Don’t Glitter Bomb Your Survey Form
It is pretty tempting to fill in your survey with a big ol’ tick for yes, fold it up, stuff it in the return envelope and then sprinkle some glitter in for good measure. I mean, sending the ABS a glitter bomb along with your yes vote, how cute would that be?
NOT CUTE AT ALL, because tampering with the envelope in which you return your postal survey could invalidate your vote, the ABS has warned.
Our alternative suggestion? Just dab some glitter on your cheekbones before you fill in and return your survey. It’ll make you feel just as special!
Don’t Post Pics Of Your Whole Survey Form
Everyone wants to show the world that they’re for equality, and are voting yes. But the ABS has warned that voters should not take pictures of their whole survey forms and post them online.
BuzzFeed reported that the surveys each come with a unique barcode that identifies the voter as an Australian on the electoral roll, and registers that a vote has been received. (Although the ABS maintains that the code is anonymous and cannot be linked directly back to a voter to reveal their identity.)
If you post a photo online that includes your barcode, you could invalidate your vote by risking someone stealing your unique barcode and voting for you before you have a chance to return your ballot.
So, if you’re posting a pic of your survey form, just remember not to include a shot of the barcode! Or, better yet, don’t post a picture at all, and instead flood your Instagram with fabulous Aussie queer icons… like this babe!
Or this jokester!
Or these adorable cuties!
Or P E N N Y!
If You Make A Mistake…
Who among us hasn’t been guilty of fucking up when filling in a form at one stage in our lives? I know I have. If you DO make a mistake on your postal survey form, never fear, it can still be salvaged!
Just cross out your mistake, correctly mark the box for Yes and then write YES clearly, in capital letters, beside the box to indicate that it’s your correct vote.
And make sure your form is not damaged in any other way. If the unique barcode is damaged or missing, or if the form is damaged, call the ABS and request a new survey form.
Return Your Completed Form On Time
If you’re like me, you put off important tasks and errands until the last minute. DO NOT PUT OFF THIS ERRAND. The lives and liberties of LGBTIQ+Australians hang in the balance!
Once you receive your form, fill it in straight away, put it in the postage paid envelope provided, and pop it in a red letterbox straight away. And I mean straight away, team.
Do it. Do it now. Don’t let it sit on your kitchen bench and get covered in soy sauce and toast crumbs.
—
If you have any more questions about your postal survey form, you can call ABS on 1800 572 113 or visit marriagesurvey.abs.gov.au for more information.
—
Matilda Dixon-Smith is Junkee’s Staff Writer. She tweets at @mdixonsmith.