Cutting off voting to disenfranchise youth

The Howard government's changes to electoral legislation, passed last year, will mean a large portion of young people who are of voting age will be left off the electoral roll for the November 24 federal election. This legislation — an obvious move to bar certain voters from the political process — affects mainly those who are statistically more likely to vote against the government, such as the young, homeless people, house-renters and those who speak English as a second language.

Despite a $12.5 million campaign to raise awareness about the new legislation, an August Roy Morgan poll showed that over 80% of people were unaware of the changes.

This year, new enrolments closed the day the election writs were issued, whereas previously people had one week after the issuing of the writs. Before the last federal election in 2004, more than 423,000 people enrolled for the first time or updated their enrolment details during those additional seven days.

The Liberal party's Gary Nairn admitted that 410,000 young Australians were missing from the electoral roll as of March 31, which included 35% of 18-year-olds.

With the rising price of education, attacks on workers through Howard's industrial relations laws and government inaction on climate change, it's no wonder the Howard government is unconfident of the level of support young people would give them in the elections.

The news has left many surprised and angry at not being able to vote, but also because many people will face $110 fines, as enrolment and voting are compulsory. The government says it made the changes to the process in the interests of easing the burden on the Australian Electoral Commission, but a mass of people calling the hotline has led to a backlog, with the AEC having "answered more than 18,000 calls by 5pm" the day after the election was called, according to spokesperson Phil Diak.

Those needing to change enrolment details have until 8pm on October 23.

From GLW issue 728