Government Responds To Eligibility Confusion For Postal Vote

Same-sex marriage vote


Article heading image for Government Responds To Eligibility Confusion For Postal Vote

The government has clarified whether 16 and 17 year-olds are eligible to vote in the upcoming same-sex marriage postal plebiscite, following concern that there had been an error in the direction to the Australian Electoral Commission.

The issue arose as it was stated that the vote would encompass all people on the electoral roll, including those who had made an application for enrollment before the 24 August 2017.

Teenagers are able to register their details with the AEC prior to voting age, however it has been confirmed that they are not formally added to the electoral roll until after turning 18.

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“For the avoidance of any doubt and to make absolutely clear that to participate in this survey, Australians have to be enrolled on the Electoral Roll and be eligible to participate in a Federal Election by the end of 24 August 2017, I have issued a further direction to the Australian Statistician to make that intention absolutely clear,” Acting Minister of State Mathias Cormann said in a statement this morning.

Natalie Shoebridge

16 August 2017

Article by:

Natalie Shoebridge




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