Bill
Commonwealth Electoral Amendment (Lowering Voting Age and Increasing Voter Participation) Bill 2019
lapsed, as at 2020-08-25. (s) BANDT, Adam, MP portfolio.
- Sponsor
- Adam Bandt
- Portfolio
- (s) BANDT, Adam, MP
Recorded stages
- introduced — 2019-10-21
- second reading — 2019-10-21
- other — 2020-08-25
Divisions
No divisions recorded. Most questions are decided on the voices; this does not establish that a bill was unopposed.
Plain-language summary
Written by a model from the explanatory memorandum; not the record, as at 2019-10-21.
The bill would let 16‑ and 17‑year‑olds vote in federal elections and referendums.
It would lower the minimum voting age to 16 while keeping compulsory voting and the right to stand for office at 18, and allow 14‑ and 15‑year‑olds to enrol in advance.
Eligible Australians who are not on the roll or whose details are wrong could enrol or fix their address at a polling place on election day and cast a provisional vote.
- The voting age in federal elections and referendums is reduced from 18 to 16.
- People aged 14 and 15 can be added to the electoral roll before they turn 16.
- The Electoral Commissioner must include 16‑ and 17‑year‑olds on the certified list of voters for referendums.
- Penalty notices will not be issued to 16‑ and 17‑year‑olds who do not vote in referendums.
- Voters not on the roll or at the wrong address can enrol or update their details at a polling centre on election day.
- Those who enrol or update on election day will be treated as enrolled and able to cast a provisional vote.
Australians aged 16 and 17, 14‑ and 15‑year‑olds, and eligible voters not on the roll or at the correct address.
Sources
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