Started 15/07/2010
6
days to go
Enrolling to Vote
The Australian Electoral Commission (AEC) wants your thoughts on what young people need to know about enrolling to vote, how they should spread the word, as well as what stops young people enrolling. Your thoughts and ideas will help the AEC plan future youth enrolment activities – and they want you to be involved in the strategies that affect you. So this is your opportunity to have your say.
Firstly though, did you know that the AEC is committed to making sure all eligible Australians have a say in who forms their government? Did you also know that you are eligible to enrol if you are over the age of 17 and an Australian citizen, and that voting is compulsory for anyone 18 years old and over? Also, were you aware that you need to update your enrolment every time you move?
Currently, enrolments are declining and the largest group not on the roll are young people aged 17 to 25. The AEC knows that this isn’t because young people don’t care about politics or aren’t interested in policy decisions. What can the AEC do to encourage more young people to enrol?
Please think about the following questions when posting your response:
- Why did you enrol to vote? If you didn’t enrol, why didn’t you?
- Why do you think some young people don’t enrol to vote?
- What information do you need about enrolling to vote?
- What would help you enrol to vote?
- How would you go about encouraging others to enrol to vote?
It would be very much appreciated if you took the time to share your views and thoughts on these key issues. The outcomes of this AYF online discussion will feed directly into the AEC’s inquiry. If you wish to make a formal submission to the Commission, or seek other information about the inquiry, please visit the Australian Electoral Commission website.
What is this?
The ideas board is your chance to give your opinion about a certain topic that we're interested in. If you have a suggestion for a topic you would like covered you can suggest one here.
Submitting an idea
Submit your own idea on the topic and make a difference, or let your opinion be heard. Simply click on the Submit my Idea button below and off you go!
Vote on ideas
Browse through the ideas that others have submitted and vote for the best ones. The ideas with the most votes will be used to guide future policy and program development.
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Anonymous -
submitted 23/08/2010
If anyone has been reading all the facebook and twitter updates flying back and forth between not only young people but also older members of the community - it's pretty clear that a lot of people don't understand how voting works. the number of comments I've read that show confusion in regards to preferential voting and suggestions to just do a blank vote really brings home how crucial education around voting and politics and how it all works. So many people feel disillusioned and powerless that they just don't care.
I'd like to see some real attention given to apolitical education in secondary schools, explaining the rules regarding voting, how to vote, why to vote and how your vote is used. I also support online enrolment - it's ridiculous that in this day and age we have to post our enrollment in.
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Anonymous -
submitted 30/07/2010
Young Australians have a lot to say, and opinions that deserve to be heard. However I believe there are many young people who dont believe they have the opportunity to really make a difference and thus feel disenfranchised. I think in order for young people to feel like their vote is worth enroling they need to see that their vote is worth just as much as any other person, and if all dissatisfied people voted they would make a significant change.
Aside from that I believe there is an issue with enrolment processes. 24 hrs to enrol to vote after an election is called assumes too many things. It assumes one is able to reach an AEC in time. It assumes one has the correct ID, it assumes that people will know that an election has been called (if you are unwell, out of the country, camping, or your electricity cuts you wouldnt have a clue).
The
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ev -
submitted 19/07/2010
People don't know how to enrol, and/or can't be bothered to. I think a lot of people also don't know that it is illegal to not vote. There needs to be more direct advertising from a wide variety of places, and the advertising should've started earlier, whether an election is called or not. I think it's just a lack of information.
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Joel Dignam -
submitted 15/07/2010
Enrolling to vote is made far too hard. It should be possible to enrol to vote without having to print anything out or mail anything. Why can't this happen online? Surely someone's identity is known to the government already.
Also, the laws that mean people can't enrol 24 hours after an election has been called are ridiculous and undemocratic. Now I don't blame the AEC for this parliamentary malpractice, but could they please be gotten rid of?