AEC launches campaign to find over 21,000 voters missing in Tasmania

The Australian Electoral Commission (AEC) is today launching a state-wide hunt for missing voters,with current data indicating around 21,000 people may be unenrolled in Tasmania.

Acting State Manager David Molnar said the purpose of the ‘Count Me In’ campaign was to prompt Australians to enrol to vote and to keep their address details current, so they areready to be counted at the next federal election.

“This many potential voters isequivalent to more than a capacity crowd at Blundstone Arena not being heard, and that’s not good for the health of our democracy,” he said.

As part of the ‘Count Me In’ campaign, the AEC will send a postcard to every Tasmanianhousehold. The postcard will outline the three easy steps to enrol or update enrolment details.

A national online advertising campaign, community radio advertising and other media and public relations activities will support the campaign.

“By enrolling to vote, you are not only meeting your legal obligation, but you will also help determine who is elected and represents you in the Parliament at the next federal election,” Mr Molnar said.

“At each election, some Tasmanianelectors miss out on their vote because they’ve left enrolment too late. This campaign is all about not waiting until whenever an election is called.”

The Tasmanian figures average out to about 4,200 missing voters in each of the five federal electorates in the state. The campaign is targeting an estimated 1.5 million missing voters nationally.

All Australian citizens aged 18 years and over must enrol to vote. Australians aged 16 and 17 can enrol now and vote when they turn 18.

To check if you’re enrolled to vote visit www.aec.gov.au/checkor call the AEC on 13 23 26 for help. The AEC website has contact details for people wishing to speak to someone in another language.

For more information or to enrol to vote, visit www.aec.gov.au.

‘Count Me In’ is part of the AEC’s 2012 Year of Enrolment, which marks the 100th anniversaryof compulsory enrolment and the 50th anniversary of the Indigenous right to vote.
Australian Electoral Commission