THE HON MARK DREYFUS QC MP
Attorney-General
Minister for Emergency Management
Special Minister of State
Minister for the Public Service and Integrity
MEDIA RELEASE
NEW ONLINE ENROLMENT MAKES IT EASIER FOR 1.4 MILLION MISSING VOTERS
With almost 1.4 million eligible Australians, or close to 10 per cent, still missing from the electoral roll, Special Minister of State Mark Dreyfus today launched online enrolment and urged people to take advantage of this new tablet- and mobile-friendly capability.
Mr Dreyfus said the largest group of missing voters half a million are 18 to 24 years of age, with under-enrolment also prevalent among people well into their forties.
The biggest challenge is our newest and youngest voters, with only one in two 18-year-olds and two in three 19-year-olds on the roll, a rate much lower than the national participation rate of 91.2 per cent, Mr Dreyfus said.
Speaking at the National Electoral Education Centre in Canberra at the launch of the Australian Electoral Commissions online enrolment, Mr Dreyfus said the end of the need to pick up or print paper enrolment forms was in sight.
I encourage Australians to take advantage of the Australian Electoral Commissions new easy-access tablet- and mobile-friendly enrolment site to enrol or update their details online now for the federal election and referendum on 14 September.
The online site works on a range of electronic devices, though it is primarily targeted at users of tablet and other mobile devices. Signatures can be created using a stylus, mouse or your finger.
You can enrol or check your enrolment details online at www.aec.gov.au or by calling the AEC on 13 23 26. I encourage you to do this immediately if youre unsure whether youre enrolled, or which address you are enrolled for, Mr Dreyfus said.
He advised anyone who has moved house since the 2010 federal election to check and confirm they were enrolled for their current address. Voters must update their address details on the roll every time they move.
Traditional enrolment forms are still available at any AEC office, Australia Post outlets and Centrelink or Medicare service centres.
"With only two months left before the roll closes on 19 August, I would encourage people to enrol now and not leave it until the last minute, Mr Dreyfus said.
"With online enrolment, it's easier than ever before."
MONDAY, 17 JUNE 2013
