The Electoral Commission has adopted new rules setting out how appeals against decisions made by the Supervisor of Elections on opinion polls, surveys and election-related research will be handled.
The Appeals Against Decisions of the Supervisor Regarding Opinion Polls, Surveys and Research Rules 2026 came into effect on 29 July 2026 under the Electoral Act 2014.
The rules establish procedures, forms and timeframes for appeals lodged under section 110A of the Act.
Under the new rules, a person seeking to challenge a decision of the Supervisor must file a Notice of Appeal within 14 days of the decision being made.
The rules also outline who may qualify as “a person aggrieved”, including a person who received a direction from the Supervisor, the publisher or organiser of the opinion poll or survey, or a person named in the poll who is adversely affected by the Supervisor’s decision.
The Commission must provide a copy of the appeal to the Supervisor of Elections within three working days, while the Supervisor must respond within five working days of receiving the notice.
The rules also allow relevant political parties or other affected persons to apply to join proceedings as third parties.
Where an in-person hearing is required, the Commission must schedule it within 15 working days of receiving the appeal, subject to any necessary adjustments to procedural timeframes.
The rules further require the Commission to issue its decision within 15 working days after the completion of the hearing or after receiving any additional evidence or submissions.
According to the Electoral Commission, the rules supplement the broader Adjudication Procedure Rules 2026 by providing procedures specifically for appeals relating to opinion polls, surveys and election research conducted under the Electoral Act.
