<blockquote rel="mhej">Hi Old Timers -
I'm wondering if you can help me out. I've been in Sydney since March 22 2014. 2 days ago, I received a letter from the Australian Electoral Commission inquiring about my permanent address for voting purposes.
I don't recall registering with the Australian Electoral Commission. Unless this is something that's automatic when you register with Medicare and/or Centrelink?
In any case, I was told to either update my permanent address online or send back the letter indicating that I am not an Australian Citizen.
Sounds like an easy solution right? So I ticked the box indicating that I am not an Australian Citizen and sealed it in the envelope included in the letter sent to me ( I love how the AU Government is so helpful in such a small gesture).
I was hoping to send it back today, but I suddenly had doubts if I should.
This is why:
Last July, I called up the Australian Taxation Office to inquire about lodging my taxes. And I was told, after waiting on the phone for 45 minutes (not the good AU Gov part), that as of July, I am not yet a Permanent Resident for Tax Purposes (even though I have a PR Visa 189). They told me I had to wait until the end of September to lodge my taxes.
This where my doubts about the letter from the AEC stemmed from. Is there such a thing as an Australian Citizen for Voting purposes too? Or was I supposed to take that technically (not an Actual AU Citizen) as opposed to literally (AU Citizen because I live here)?
Any of the old timers here who have gotten a similar letter from AEC early on into their residency?
I just want to make sure I understand the parameters correctly as any misstep might jeopardize my status within Australia.
Or pwede ring, praning lang ako and I just should have dropped the letter in the P.O. Box this morning on my way to work. hehehe.</blockquote>
Kami we received that letter din but we didn't reply ata...
No issues naman so far (I hope!) ahahah... 🙂