28/2009 28 July 2009
Special Minister of State, Senator Joe Ludwig, today encouraged Australians to register their name on the electoral roll during Enrol to Vote week (27 July – 2 August 2009).
Senator Ludwig said according to the Australian Electoral Commission, at any given time up to one million voters were not enrolled to vote.
“Australia’s enrolment participation rate has been declining slowly since the 2007 close of rolls,” Minister Ludwig said.
“Currently there are 1.2 million people – or 8 per cent of eligible voters – missing from the electoral roll.”
This year the AEC is using Enrol to Vote week to encourage more young people onto the electoral roll.
“Young people have been identified as the group most under represented on the electoral roll,” Minister Ludwig said.
“Currently one in two 18-year-olds is not enrolled to vote, and many teenagers are unaware they can apply for enrolment as soon as they turn 17.”
“Officers from the AEC will be available for high school visits around the country next week, to support students to meet their responsibilities to government.”
Minister Ludwig said as part of an important reform agenda, the Rudd Government was working hard to restore the integrity of our electoral processes.
“We are providing $13 million to the AEC over four years to improve voter turn out and participation in Indigenous communities,” he said.
“Over the next four years the AEC will aim to raise awareness, including of young Indigenous adults, of the specifics of how and when to enrol and how to vote formally in elections.”
“This initiative is in addition to the Government’s Green Paper process which is intended to facilitate discussion on reforms to the electoral system.”
| Media Contact: | Website: |
|---|---|
| Sarah Cosson - 0423 823 843 or (02) 6277 7600 | www.cabinetsecretary.gov.au www.smos.gov.au |