The Wellspring

Late last year the Australian Parliament passed the Electoral and Referendum Amendment (Electoral Integrity and Other Measures) Act. (The Howard Government had tried to pass the law in 2004, but was unsuccessful.) This piece of legislation made a number of changes to the way Australians vote. Amongst others, it:

• increased the threshold beyond which one must disclose political donations to $10 000,
• introduced a proof of identity requirement for people enrolling, updating their enrolment, or provisionally voting, and
• revoked the voting rights of prisoners serving a sentence of full-time detention.

Most significantly for young people, the Act provides that no one will be added to the electoral roll after 8:00PM on the day the writ of election is issued. Voters who wish to merely amend their existing record on the electoral roll have three working days after the issue of the writ. Previously, voters had one week to add their name to the electoral roll. And of course, if you don’t have an active and accurate listing in the electoral roll, you can’t vote.

At the time, the Australian Electoral Commission estimated that up to 80 000 citizens who would otherwise be entitled to vote would be prevented from doing so, whilst 200 000 voters would be enrolled at an incorrect (usually a previous) address.

Many youth groups saw the move as a way to limit the political effect of young people by removing them from the democratic process of voting. They argued that young people - especially potential first-time voters who had not yet enrolled - would be disproportionately affected. The AEC says that only 56% of 18-year olds are currently on the Electoral Roll, and the NSW youth affairs peak, the Youth Action and Policy Association, says that ‘young adults are far more transient than other age groups and are often moving out of home, or changing their residence due to their employment and education needs. As a result, they often leave their enrolment to the last minute.’ Labor Party MP, Steve Georganas said: “Young Australians… who are not experienced in participating in our national democracy and who are just starting their lives as young adults are naturally going to be preoccupied with concerns other than politics. We should not be trying to exclude them for failing to be ultra-conscientious with the timing of their enrolment. On the contrary, we should be encouraging their engagement with the process.”

Now, the progressive political movement GetUp! is rallying behind the issue, with a new campaign called Don’t Let Them Stop You From Voting. GetUp! is currently collecting signatures for a petition to repeal the legislation. At the time of this post, they have 23976 signatures.

To add your name, visit http://www.getup.org.au/campaign.asp?campaign_id=75.

To download forms to register to vote or update your details, visit the Australian Electoral Commission’s website at http://www.aec.gov.au/_content/what/enrolment/forms.htm. To check your enrolment details online, visit https://oevf.aec.gov.au/.

Update (10 May): At the end of April, the Australian Electoral Commission issued a Fact Sheet explaining the new Close of Rolls arrangements. It is available at http://www.aec.gov.au/_content/What/enrolment/cor_factsheet.htm.