The following amendments to the Electoral Act came into effect on 16 August 2016.
Early voting
The eligibility requirements for casting an early vote have been repealed. Anyone wishing to cast their vote prior to Election Day may now do so as a matter of choice.
Electronic voting options
The Commission may now provide internet and telephone voting for electors with incapacity or insufficient literacy skills. This will particularly benefit electors who in the past have been unable to cast their vote in secret because of their need for assistance in filling out a ballot paper.
Direct enrolment
Electors who become eligible to be enrolled (for example 18 year olds) or who change address may be directly enrolled or have their address details updated automatically. This will substantially increase the completeness and accuracy of the roll.
Scrutineers
Instead of appointing their own scrutineers, individual candidates have been given the option of delegating that task to an official agent (such as the secretary of a political party).