Timor-Leste’s electoral commission is giving some Timorese Australians the chance to vote in the country’s upcoming elections for the first time since independence. Citizens living in Darwin and Sydney will be part of the trial, which allows them to vote without flying back to Timor-Leste. In 1975, Darwin resident Dulcie Munn fled Timor-Leste and has not voted since the country’s independence referendum in August 1999. “That’s 18 years ago,” she said. “To be able to participate again this time, casting our vote for the future of our nation Timor-Leste, is quite important.”
Ms Munn said the voting trial should be expanded to other Australian jurisdictions.
“A lot of Timorese in Melbourne, Queensland and Western Australia are quite sad and actually a little bit upset that they can’t take part in the voting,” she said. “To travel to Timor-Leste, it’s a bit impossible for some due to commitments at work and expenses.”
Full Article: Timorese Australians given chance to vote in Timor-Leste elections – ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation).
