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Australian Electoral Commission
The AEC has expanded its direct enrolment program following successful trials in remote communities.
Electoral Commissioner Tom Rogers said trials conducted in communities across Western Australia, Queensland and the Northern Territory resulted in more than 1400 new enrolments.
“To directly enrol someone the law requires not just the verification of trusted data but also a notification - we’ve now established new methods for that following careful consideration and trials,” Mr Rogers said.
“The use of community mailbags and email as methods of notification for people without mail delivery to their residence has proven to be effective in many cases with appropriate rules and processes built into when it can be applied.”
“These processes are now part of the AEC’s ongoing direct enrolment program for the next application to be processed soon across the country and will assist in further raising enrolment in remote communities.”
AEC twitter: Deputy Electoral Commissioner Jeff Pope discussing the trials in September 2022
This change to the direct enrolment program adds to the recent addition of Medicare cards as a form of evidence of identity for enrolment as well as the further modernisation of online enrolment forms to allow for a third-party validation of identity.
“Rising enrolment nationally, and rising Indigenous enrolment rates, are both the result of hard work we’re continuing to invest in what is a great base for democratic participation ahead of the 2023 referendum and future elections,” Mr Rogers said.
“We’re very hopeful that Australia’s extraordinary national enrolment rate of 97.1 per cent will grow even further off the back of this and other AEC efforts.”
“It really is universal enrolment access here in Australia and, in many cases, that access is even brought to people rather than having to seek it out.”
The AEC acknowledges the Traditional Owners of country throughout Australia and recognises their continuing connection to land, waters, culture and community. We pay our respects to Elders past, present and emerging.