The Australian Electoral Commission (AEC) has urged voters to check their enrolment details as the federal election campaign gets underway. The electoral rolls will close on May 23, ahead of a July 2 poll. About 15.5 million people are eligible to vote in the upcoming election, but 950,000 people are missing from the electoral roll. AEC spokesman Phil Diak said the number of young people who were yet to register was a concern. “In round terms, about one in two 18-year-olds and one in four 19-year-olds are not on the roll, so it’s very important that they take action now, and you can do this by going to the AEC’s website and you can enrol conveniently on a PC, smartphone or tablet,” he said.
Mr Diak said it was essential existing voters checked their enrolment details, especially if they had moved house in recent times.
The AEC said it would also be ready to implement the Senate voting laws in time for the July 2 poll.
Voters will be urged to number at least six boxes above the line or 12 boxes below the line on the Senate ballot papers in two months’ time.