Where do I vote for the Voice to Parliament referendum? What time ...

Today, millions will go to the polling booths to cast their votes in the Voice to Parliament referendum. 

Let's cover the bare basics before you get into the booth. 

Tap the links below to be taken to a specific question or scroll down to read on. 

Explain the Voice to me in less than 100 wordsDo I have to vote?How do I vote?Where do I vote?What time does voting open?What time does voting close?What about postal votes?When will we know the result?What is the Voice?

The Voice to Parliament is a proposed advisory body that would be enshrined in the constitution.

It would represent First Nations people from across Australia to provide advice to the parliament and government about decisions, policies and laws that affect their lives.

This would be on matters relating to the social, spiritual and economic wellbeing of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.

The Voice would not have powers to overrule parliament.

Do I have to vote?

Voting is compulsory for all Australians on the electoral roll. 

If you're enrolled to vote and you don't vote today, you'll need to provide a valid reason explaining why or you may face a $20 fine.

How do I vote?

You'll be asked to write either "yes" or "no" in English in the box at the bottom of the ballot paper, which will look like this:

You're required to write out either "Yes" or "No" in English.(ABC News: Chris Gillette)

The Australian Electoral Commission — the independent body tasked with running elections and referendums in Australia — is asking people not to do ticks or crosses. 

That's because a cross would be considered an informal vote and won't be counted.

However, a tick would be considered a Yes vote. 

This is due to vote saving provisions, which have been in referendum legislation for more than a century.

They make sure a vote can be counted if the voter doesn't follow the instructions on the paper but their intention is clear.

The ruling on ticks and crosses is based on legal advice from 1988 — 35 years ago — and updated advice from the Australian government solicitor from earlier this year that says: 

"A referendum ballot paper posing only one question marked with a tick should be treated as formal.

"This is because it is equivalent to a ballot paper marked 'Yes'.

"However, a ballot paper posing only one question marked with a cross should be treated as informal because it provides no clear indication of the voter's intention.

"This is because a cross may be used, by itself, variously to denote approval or disapproval."

If, under the savings provisions, the AEC cannot determine the intent behind a vote, it'll be considered an informal vote and won't be counted.

But long story short, don't worry about ticks and crosses — just write "Yes" or "No" on the ballot paper.

Where do I vote?

Voting centres will be set up in public buildings — think schools, churches and public halls.

Chances are there's one not far from you, so you shouldn't have to go far.

The best way to find a polling place near you is to look at the AEC's website.

If you're planning on voting in a state or territory that you don't live in, you'll need to find a polling place that takes interstate votes — and, depending on where you are, you may need to travel further to find one, so plan ahead. 

What time does voting open today?

You'll be able to vote from 8am.

And that's 8am according to the time zone of the state or territory you're in. 

What time does voting close today?

Centres close at 6pm. 

Again, that's 6pm according to the time zone of the state or territory you're in. 

What about postal votes?

You'll need to complete your postal vote by 6pm today.

That also means having it witnessed by someone before then, too — so make sure you don't forget. 

The AEC encourages people to send in their completed postal votes as soon as possible. 

When will we know the result?

Counting will start once the polls close tonight.

Because of Daylight Saving time, counting will begin in ACT, NSW, Tasmania and Victoria results first, followed by South Australia, Queensland, the Northern Territory and Western Australia.

It's unclear how long it will take until we get a result, but we're expecting some counting information by about 7:30pm AEDT.  

The AEC never officially declares referendum results on the night of voting. 

However, commentators and analysts will declare their projections for the result based on the AEC's tally and, depending on the margins, they may declare a result within a few hours.

At the ABC, analysts Antony Green and Casey Briggs will be on the case, plugging in the AEC's figures to their data analysis programs to predict the outcome. 

Antony Green and Casey Briggs are experienced data analysts who play a major role in the ABC's state and federal election coverage. (ABC News)

Just like state and federal elections, Briggs and Green won't declare a result until they're absolutely confident in its accuracy. 

You'll be able to follow the count and their analysis this evening on the ABC News blog as well as on ABC radio and television broadcasts and live streams.