OPT-IN COMPULSORY LOCAL COUNCIL VOTING A STEP FORWARD
Proposed Model Would Lift Voter Participation
Tim Morris MP
Greens Local Government Spokesperson
Friday, 21 September 2012
The Tasmanian Greens today welcomed the opening up of public consultations over local government reform, and reiterated their support for the proposed opt-in model for compulsory voting in municipal elections.
Greens Local Government spokesperson Tim Morris MP said that the proposal had been the focus of an investigation by the House of Assembly’s Standing Committee on Community Development, set up following the passage of a Greens’ motion in November last year.
“Local government is a vital component of our democracy, but the current system of optional voting doesn’t do enough to encourage all voters to get involved and have their say,” Mr Morris said.
“The Greens support compulsory voting in municipal elections because we regard it as the single best way to address the low participation rate in local government ballots.”
“Last year the Greens moved to have this issue examined by a Parliamentary Committee, and we are hopeful of achieving tripartisan support in time for the next round of local government elections in 2013.”
“The opt-in model contained in the discussion paper certainly deserves close consideration, since it would hopefully go some way to addressing the concerns of councils who don’t support compulsory voting, and those who do.”
“Hopefully the release of this discussion paper brings Tasmania another step closer to embracing compulsory voting for council elections, a reform that we believe is already long overdue.”
“Compulsory voting is just one of the areas in local government where reform is overdue, and the Greens are continuing our push to investigate electronic voting and a ban on Members of Parliament concurrently holding seats in local government,” Mr Morris said.
Tim Morris MP Greens Local Government Spokesperson Friday, 21 September 2012
