Voting

If you are 18 years or older, it is compulsory to be enrolled to vote. However, many Australians – mostly young people – are not enrolled. The Australian Electoral Commission (AEC) believes that half of all 18 year olds, and a quarter of people aged under 25, are not registered on the electoral roll.

If your name does not appear on the electoral roll, you have no say in who governs you. You are effectively voiceless. A functioning democracy depends on its citizens participating in the political process – by voting at election time and keeping politicians accountable between elections. Without this engagement, our democratic system is at risk of corruption and decay.

The good news is that people are enrolling at record numbers. The 2025 election saw a record high enrolment, especially for people below age 25 who enrolled at 92%. But we can do better.

If you haven’t enrolled because you think your vote won’t make a difference, think again. Some seats are decided by a margin of just a few hundred votes. These seats, known as marginal seats, are often pivotal in determining which party forms government.

If you are out of the country, traveling or just can’t vote on the day of the election, you can still vote! Pre-polling starts three weeks before the official election, and you can also register for an absentee ballot if you are unable to go to a polling station.

So, if you are not registered on the electoral roll, act now! You can pick up an enrolment form from your local post office, by contacting the AEC on 13 23 26, or downloading a form from the AEC website.