How John Howard Plans To Stop You Voting
By Maritime Union of Australia
Up to 150,000 people could be prevented from voting at this year's
Federal Election unless they enrol early with the Australian Electoral
Commission (AEC).
The warning comes after a Parliamentary Committee exposed a Howard
Government plan to prevent more than 200,000 voters, mainly young
people or those who have moved house recently, from getting on
the electoral roll after the election is announced.
The Government-backed report of the Joint Standing Committee on
Electoral Matters calls for the electoral roll to be closed to
new enrolments at 6pm on the day the Prime Minister announces
an election instead of allowing the current seven-day period for
people to get their voting details in order. The report also calls
for a reduction from seven days to three days to register a change
of address.
Opinion polling suggests that the groups being targeted by the
Government - young people and home renters tend to vote against
the Coalition.
The legal changes threaten the votes of an estimated 150,000 young
people (ie: those voting for the first time, many who turned 18
since the last election) and even more people who may be enrolled
at the wrong address.
The Government is considering introducing the changes in its planned
Elections and Referendums Amendment Bill which could go before
Federal Parliament later this year.
Australian Electoral Commission (AEC) figures show more than 430,000
people enrolled or updated their enrolment in the seven-day cut-off
period before the 1996 Federal Election.
For the 1998 election, the figure was 351,913. For the 1999 Republic
Referendum, 315,104 enrolments were processed half of them (155,000)
from first-time voters.
Under John Howard's plan, people will not be able to vote unless
they enrol with the AEC before an election is called. Many observers
expect Mr Howard to announce the election in November, but it
could be at any time this year.
The AEC opposes Mr Howard's plan to stop people voting. It is
conducting an ongoing enrolment program. An AEC representative
may also be able to speak at you local high school.
Australians aged over 18 are required by law to enrol to vote.
Seventeen-year-olds may register provisionally, but will only
be allowed to vote after turning 18.
Enrolment forms are available at post offices, on the AEC website:
http://www.aec.gov.au/ or from the AEC, tel 13 23 26
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