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New citizens urged to
join electoral roll
The Australian Electoral Commission (AEC) is encouraging Australia’s newest citizens to enrol to vote this Australia Day as the nation celebrates its ‘2012 Year of Enrolment’.
State Manager of the AEC, Peter Kramer said the Federal electoral system was changed 100 years ago so that all citizens became not only entitled but also obliged to enrol to vote.
“Fifty years ago another important electoral change meant Indigenous Australians gained the right to vote,” Mr Kramer said.
“The anniversary reminds us that the opportunity to vote is a privilege, which you can only access by enrolling to vote.”
| Australia Day is ideal time |
He said the privilege was one which the country’s newest citizens needed to take at the first opportunity.
“AEC staff will be on hand at citizenship ceremonies across Western Australia this Australia Day to assist new citizens to enrol to vote, and join more than 14 million Australians already on the electoral roll,” he said.
“As this year highlights the importance of enrolment it is concerning that around 175,000 eligible Australians in Western Australia are not enrolled.”
Mr Kramer said if an election was to be held, those people would miss out on their opportunity to vote.
“It’s compulsory for all Australian citizens 18 years and over to enrol to vote and you must be enrolled before you can vote in Australian elections,” he said.
“You can enrol to vote in three easy steps: go to www.aec.gov.au/enrol; complete the enrolment form, print and sign it; and return it to the AEC.”
Mr Kramer said enrolment forms were also available at any AEC office, Australia Post outlet, Medicare or Centrelink office.
Edition 121, 24 January 2012
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