Talk:Electoral system of Australia/Archive 2015

Technically compulsory to vote, but only if you (voluntarily) register to vote

Hi - I just wanted to clarify something with regards to compulsory voting in Australia. Voting is compulsory if you are *registered to vote*. Australian citizens may register to vote just before they turn eighteen. It is not, however, compulsory to register to vote (though you will never be told this, and certainly are lead to believe that you must enrol). Moreover, for a limited number of reasons, the Electoral Commission can remove you from the electoral register (i.e. if they believe you have migrated overseas). In fact, if you are not on the electoral register (i.e. registered to vote), you are not permitted to vote at all. In my twenties, the Electoral Commission removed me from the voting register TWICE, because I went backpacking overseas and failed to notify them. Upon my return (the first time), I attempted to vote as usual (I had been voting for as long as I was legally allowed to) but was no longer listed. When I contacted the Electoral Commission, they told me that I had been removed from the register. When I queried how that was possible (given we have compulsory voting) I was informed of the info above. I then re-registered, only to be taken off again the next time I went overseas without letting them know I would be away and returning. Cheers (Jessica Evans)

It's true that only people who are enrolled are entitled to vote. But that's a different thing from whether you're required to enrol in the first place, and all the info on the AEC's website says quite plainly that is compulsory to enrol, and having enrolled, it is then compulsory to vote.

It's an odd quirk that the AEC can remove your name from the electoral roll in some circumstances. It's hardly a punishment, but a relief for those who didn't want to vote in the first place. If only the Tax Office would remove from me the right to pay tax, as a punishment for not paying my taxes. -- Jack of Oz [your turn] 10:22, 8 April 2011 (UTC)

My understanding is that it is "compulsory" to enrol to vote, but the Commonwealth Electoral Act 1918 specifically protects citizens from prosecution for failing to enrol. In light of this, I am unsure of whether the terms "compulsory" or "mandatory" should be used in regards to the responsibility to enrol. Well, clearly the former term is used by the AEC, but does that mean it should be used here? Because I think it muddies the issue. +|||||||||||||||||||||||||+ (talk) 04:52, 13 January 2012 (UTC)

The protection from prosecution is only for people who have commenced the enrolling process, i.e.: if the AEC catches you as being illegally un-enrolled, they can prosecute, but as soon as you submit an application they can't prosecute you anymore Part VII section 101, subsections 7 & 8 Nathan (talk) 16:56, 2 May 2015 (UTC)

A hypothetical question: in Australia I think high school students are added automatically to the role by their school when they turn 18 or upon graduation, I forget which. Could you technically or legally stop this from happening? Would you have legal recourse if were added to the role against your will? My guess is no on both counts?+|||||||||||||||||||||||||+ (talk) 04:57, 13 January 2012 (UTC)

From recollection at least one of the states has pulled out of the joint Commonwealth/State electoral rolls and instead operates its own system of automatically enrolling people based on various information held by government agencies, including high school records. Voters can object to being added to the roll or to the place they're put on for various reasons - examples include high school leavers moving to different states, people with cars registered at their work instead of home address, people who mainly live & work in another state or territory but have weekend homes and so forth, but not a more general objection to voting. I'm not sure of the mechanics of the objection but presume it would have to be lodged within a limited period of time. Timrollpickering (talk) 13:31, 19 October 2012 (UTC)

Enrolled voters who don't turn up to vote often get a fine. But are people who are not enrolled ever fined ? I've never heard of it happening.Eregli bob (talk) 01:41, 16 August 2013 (UTC)

Victoria at least began to enrol former VCE students around 2010--2011 using their details from their Victorian Curriculum and Assessment Authority applications. They haven't pulled out of the joint roll so much as they are able to add those automatically enrolled students to the Victorian roll but not the federal roll. Normal written applications still work the same way. There is no provision to object to being enrolled or prevent it though---they only inform you after it's been done. From that point, the only way to change the enrolment is to enrol with the AEC (who will then update the Victorian roll with the details you provide) or to change your details with the VEC. I'm unsure of whether that would then propagate from the VEC to the federal roll though. Nathan (talk) 16:56, 2 May 2015 (UTC)