Participation in this year's federal election is down compared to 2007 in what the Australian Electoral Commission calls "a most serious threat to Australia's democratic model".

Figures compiled by the AEC show that compared to 2007, fewer Australians who are eligible to vote are choosing to have their say on election day.

When Australia decides on its next government on August 21, precisely 14,030,528 people will be eligible to attend one of the 8000 polling stations around the country to lodge their vote.

While that marks an increase of 385,455 voters since the 2007 election, AEC spokesman Phil Diak said when population growth is factored, the overall participation rate will be down for this election.

"In 2007, the estimated participation was 92.3 per cent ... We believe the participation rate at the 2010 election, just based on the arithmetic, is lower," Mr Diak said.

"It's still in the low 90 per cent range, but it's lower than 2007. There has been a decline in the roll over time."

Voting is compulsory for every Australian citizen aged 18 years or older. If a person does not vote, and does not have a valid and sufficient reason for failing to do so, a $20 penalty is imposed.

In a document submitted to the federal Joint Standing Committee on Electoral Matters in January this year, Electoral Commissioner Ed Killesteyn urged the government "not to underestimate the threat to our democratic model presented by declining enrolment participation".

"The AEC is of the view that decisive action is required to arrest the evident decline in enrolment participation. While there is no single remedy which will bring about a sustainable and ongoing increase in enrolment participation, we do need to extend the range of tools in our toolset and be flexible enough to change them as necessary in order to keep with the times," Mr Killesteyn wrote.

He added that declining enrolment participation had the "potential to erode perceptions about the legitimacy of election results".



http://www.theage.com.au/federal-election/decline-in-voters-a-threat-to-nations-...

buzzanddidj wrote on Jul 30^th, 2010 at 8:44pm:



Wow a whole $20 if you get caught and if they don't believe your 'story', I must run off and enrol before I get fined into bankruptcy. 

As far as eroding the legitamacy of the election, it's the politicians that do that through their lies & deception, not us non-voters.

Nearly every single first world democracy has given their voters the right to vote, some vote, some don't and yet those democracies function quite nicely.

Countries like zimbabwe and Australia feel the need to impose compulsory voting for what ever reason, mostly to ensure the people know who is in charge and compliance with the government is mandatory.

We non-voters will persevere and grow in numbers, remember more people refused to vote, than voted for the greens in 2007, Australia's supposed third force in politics. 

Ex Dame Pansi wrote on Jul 31^st, 2010 at 6:36am:



I have only voted 4 or 5 times since '82 at all 3 levels of government and have never been fined, of the 3 times I was found out.

THe only reason voting is compulsory in Australia is the polliticians recieve $2 for every voter scammed, once they get over 4% of the vote. It's worth millions to political parties and they will never give up that sort of 'free money' to give us our basic human rights.

This scam was expertly manipulated by one nation and pauline hanson on 2 occasions, the pollies feigned indignation and promptly place their snouts back in the trough.

I have personally saved the taxpayer (me) many hundereds of diollars by not voting, I should be congratulated. 

Cods

The good thing about not voting you don't have to justify your choices, like the labor voters are doing now. It makes not one iota of difference whether I vote or not in the big scheme of things, I am irrelevant, there will always be a deadshiat in parliment stuffing things up.

But, I do have every right to comment about the govenment since I do pay for them with my taxes.

Take away my obligation to pay tax and I would as quiet as a church mouse and just as warm and fuzzy 

PANSI1951 It would be better if you chose NOT to vote in this election, as you clearly do not understand the very devastating implications to this country, of the Greens having the balance of power.   




" Ignorance is no excuse "

Quote:


I agree wholeheartedly, but unfortunately we have to give our preferences to someone - at least put one of the major parties last.

What astounds me about all these sustained attacks on Labor is that we've forgotten what it was like under the coalition.

Just for example -

Quote:


That was a rort if there ever was one. The most expensive elite schools in NSW received the most funding.

Quote:


What I have noticed with people making similar comments to yours George - is that you can't back up any of your attacks.

You pick up on a line of propaganda and run with it - not even understanding why you're spruiking it.

I haven't been on the roll for 20 years, how ever i registered this year to throw Rudd out and to stop this country from going bankrupt and to ensure a useless ETS does not get put in place.

Buzz

In the Uk and maybe other countries as well Polling Day is midweek as you already know.

Under the 11 yrs of JW Howard, he 'reformed' the Commonwealth Electoral Act. As it stands new enrolments had a 3 days less to get on the roll for the first time. Already on the roll then you had another 4 days.

For all the whinging blue bloods, your boy Howard tweaked the Act, and you still moan and poke fun.

Some very unhappy perfectionists in Opposition...Where is julie Bishop on her leadership aspirations...still backing her man..err men