Some households have begun receiving third party postal vote applications for the Voice referendum in the mail despite applications not yet being open, according to the Australian Electoral Commission (AEC).
Third party postal vote applications sent by political parties and other groups are legal and common in all elections and referendums, the AEC has clarified.
But it is urging people needing a postal vote to apply directly through its website, stressing ballot papers will be sent out faster and all personal details disclosed are protected under the Privacy Act.
According to referendum laws, postal vote applications cannot be opened until a writ has been issued to the AEC, which has not yet happened, but the deadline for the writ is September 11.
This means postal vote applications for the Voice referendum will open no later than Monday.
They will then be open for a month and close on October 11 before the referendum on October 14.
The AEC has asked people to only apply for a postal vote if they cannot make it to a voting centre in-person.
In addition to the thousands of polling places open on October 14, hundreds of early voting centres will be available in the two weeks before the vote as well as mobile voting and in-person voting centres overseas.
Households should now have received their official referendum booklet, which sets out the Yes and No campaigns and other referendum details.
(9 News)