democracy optional

mood: plodding.
state i'm in: holiday bliss... studying valvular heart disease.
tune: everything but the girl 'fascination' live.



now this is ridiculous! the federal government has just last week passed some of the most undemocratic legislation this country has recently seen. i have two issues:


1.
the legislation now means that voter rolls closes the night that the federal election is called. the calling of an election has traditionally been the primary prompt for people to update their details on election rolls. last election, the australian electoral commission (AEC) received a total of 423,975 enrolment cards between the time of the call of the election date, and the close of electoral rolls the night before the election. 78,816 of these were from first time voters; this election, these AUSTRALIANS will not be eligible to vote.

the government has said that they do not plan to fine people caught out on this occasion, however i doubt that earning any amount of revenue was considered when this legislation was drafted. the groups most at risk of being blatantly denied a voice at the next election are, therefore, young, recently come-of-age AUSTRALIANS, new AUSTRALIAN citizens, and those who frequently change addresses between elections, again, more than likely, young AUSTRALIANS. this represents what might be considered a large base of quite progressive (i.e. not likely liberal party) voters.


2.
expatriate AUSTRALIANS will now find it quite difficult being able to register to vote. if an AUSTRALIAN citizen lives overseas and misses an opportunity to vote at an election at any level (expats are not obliged to vote, but may choose to do so), they are likely to be struck off the electoral rolls. if an AUSTRALIAN citizen has lived overseas for more than three years, and has been struck off the electoral rolls, then they are prohibited by law from re-enrolling until they return.

over a million AUSTRALIAN citizens live abroad at any given time, and more than half a million AUSTRALIANS (the equivalent to 5 or 6 electorates) have lived abroad for over three years. that is a greater proportion of population than any other country. many of these AUSTRALIANS maintain an interest in australian politics, evidenced by the fact that many still vote in federal, if not state and local, elections. again, this is a progressively-minded group of voters.


to consider that our democracy has slipped into the murky depths of such dubious electoral roll rigging, i find utterly deplorable. john howard, you disrespectful man, please give these AUSTRALIANS back their voice!!!


to check your enrolment details with the AEC:

http://www.aec.gov.au/About_AEC/Publications/Fact_Sheets/Close_of_Rolls.htm

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