Postal voting applications for the Indigenous voice to parliament are set to open, with the legal order to hold the referendum expected to be handed down.
Governor-General David Hurley will on Monday issue the writ compelling the Australian Electoral Commission to hold the October 14 poll, kick-starting its processes.
Postal vote applications will open on Monday once the legal document has been issued and will close a month later on October 11.
The electoral roll closes seven days after writs are issued – meaning Australians have a week to ensure they’re enrolled.
Voting in the referendum is compulsory, and failure to do so may result in fines.
Hundreds of early voting centres will be available from October 2, with centres to open in the ACT, New South Wales, Queensland, and South Australia a day later due to a public holiday.
Australians will be asked to vote on constitutional recognition of Indigenous people and to enshrine a new advisory body called the voice.
Polling has shown support for the proposal is slipping, with the ‘no’ vote reaching a majority.
Indigenous leader Noel Pearson said the referendum “absolutely” has a chance of winning.
“I just don’t believe when the hand of friendship and reconciliation is extended from Indigenous people that at the end of the day, their love will be unrequited,” he told ABC’s Insiders on Sunday.
“This unrequited love is my worst nightmare, I just don’t believe Australians are capable of that, at this time in our history.”
Opposition Leader Peter Dutton has pledged to hold a second referendum if the upcoming vote fails, and should the coalition be returned to power.
The government has accused the coalition of trying to sabotage the referendum next month by promising another vote.
