The Local Government elections are just about over and again we half-talk about compulsory voting.
The question is … why hasn’t it happened? I have been pushing this for years but it seems to go on deaf ears year after year.
The Hobart City Council has written to the Government and Opposition without success.
The only reason why we have not had legislation to change to compulsory voting is that at the LGAT annual meetings it is voted down (by a very small margin)
One only has to see why? The first issue is that we have too many small councils controlling the voting at the LGAT. Of the larger city based councils besides Devonport which came in 16th in vote returns; the other 5 being Hobart, Clarence, Glenorchy, Launceston & Kingborough; all finished in the bottom 5, barely reaching 50% returns.
That clearly points out that smaller localized communities become a little more involved but with an overall return of just over 54% statewide it is not enough.
I do not believe that the State or Federal system would be happy with a 54% vote return so why should it be acceptable for local government.
During Council elections I constantly get asked “when is election day” many are confused with the postal ballot system.
I am aware that a number of residents did not receive their ballots.
I also question the accuracy of the “signature” checks that are supposed to happen.
I cannot see how this can happen accurately. This process has too many flaws and also should be scrapped it has failed and time to get back to the booths on one day and introduce compulsory voting as per State and Federal.
Keep it simple and consistent across the board and let’s hope for a 90-95% return rather than this shemozzle.
The question has been raised to introduce electronic voting; I would agree with that on the basis that is introduced across all three tiers of Government and has the appropriate safeguards.
So let’s make all three tiers of Government compulsory with the same voting system across the three so everyone has the same understanding of the election process.
The only way to introduce it is through legislation and I call on the Government to move sooner than later. I urge the Premier to take a leadership role on this and with the Greens support we can only hope the opposition also supports it and does not play politics with it, as if it does not support it, then all I can say is that it must be one rule for State and Federal politics and another for Local Government.
How can we have this inconsistency continue and only have 50% of the people decide the outcome of Local Government irrespective if it is a small Council or not!
Time for consistency and not politics! Let’s see if it happens this time!
Alderman Marti Zucco
PS. I have been on the record with this issue for over the past 10 years!
• Dean Charles Parry: The postal ballot system has to go!
• GREENS MOVE FOR COMPULSORY VOTING FOR COUNCIL ELECTIONS INQUIRY
And Electronic Voting Options
Tim Morris MP
Greens Local Government spokesperson
The Tasmanian Greens today have moved to have the introduction of compulsory voting for local council elections, as well as electronic voting technology, be examined by the House of Assembly Parliamentary Standing Committee on Community Development.
Greens Local Government spokesperson Tim Morris MP said that the continuing trend of low eligible voter turn-out in local council elections cannot continue to go unaddressed.
“Despite local councils being the grassroots tier of our democracy barely 50 per cent of eligible voters took the opportunity to have their say in this last round of elections,” Mr Morris said.
“There is now a growing call for compulsory voting to be introduced, just as State and Federal elections utilise, with newly elected Hobart Lord Mayor Damon Thomas also adding his voice to the call.”
“Previous attempts to boost voter turn-out rates included having postal ballot papers which was hoped to provide greater convenience to encourage increased participation. But this is clearly not sufficient on its own.”
“There have been advances in electronic voting technology, and the Greens believe this option also needs to be explored, additional to introducing compulsory voting.”
“We are aware that there are concerns about the possible cost of introducing compulsory voting for local government elections, and clearly our proposed Community Development Parliamentary Committee inquiry will ensure appropriate public consultation with all councils, other stakeholders and the broader community will be part and parcel of this inquiry.”
“The Greens are hopeful of securing the support of both the Labor and Liberal parties to establish this move to explore options to increase greater involvement of voters in our democracy prior to the next round of local government elections in 2013,” Mr Morris said.
Text of Motion tabled by Tim Morris MP:
That this House:
1. Notes the disappointing turnout for the recent 2011 local government elections which saw approximately 54 per cent of voters statewide return postal ballots;
2. Notes increasing calls for the introduction of compulsory voting for local government elections to increase participation at this important tier of our democratic system;
3. Resolves that the following reference be sent to the House’s Standing Committee on Community Development:
a) Inquire into the most effective and efficient way to introduce compulsory voting for the State’s Local government election prior to the next round of council elections scheduled for 2013;
b) Examine developments in electronic voting systems, and the capacity to have such a system introduced in Tasmania;
c) Ensure appropriate public consultation is conducted on both matters (a) and (b);
d) Any other matter incidental;
e) And that the Committee reports by the 30th of June 2012.
