Media release – Nic Street, Minister for Local Government, 7 June 2023
Review of local government compulsory voting
Challenges and opportunities for improvement to the local government election process will be explored as part of a review of compulsory voting in council elections.
In 2022, the Rockliff Liberal Government introduced compulsory voting at local government elections for the very first time through the Local Government Amendment (Elections) Bill.
Minister for Local Government, Nic Street, said this initiative was introduced to increase voter participation and strengthen connections between Tasmanian communities and their local councils.
Last year’s council elections delivered a landmark voter turnout of 84.8 per cent statewide, with more than 120,000 more votes returned than in the previous 2018 elections.
The Government undertook a public consultation process in December 2022 to provide an opportunity for feedback on the elections, through an online survey and submissions from the community and councils.
The responses spoke of the benefits of compulsory voting and the postal vote format for participation.
“A range of challenges and directions for improvement were also identified throughout the consultation, including enhancements to absentee and assisted voting, and a range of possibilities for a hybrid voting format suggested,” Minister Street said.
“A review of local government voting arrangements is now progressing to ensure Tasmania’s electoral provisions are contemporary and fit-for-purpose to improve future elections.”
A public discussion paper will be released in the second half of 2023.
The consultation report has been published here: www.dpac.tas.gov.au/divisions/local_government/local-government-elections-feedback.
