‘Your Answer Matters’: AEC launches major campaign ahead of Voice referendum

Callan Morse
Callan Morse Published August 21, 2023 at 1.00pm (AWST)

The Australian Electoral Commission has commenced the main phase of its referendum education drive with the launch of the Your Answer Matters campaign.

Reminding voters that their answer matters in the lead up to the Voice to Parliament referendum, the campaign will be shown on a range of channels with the aim of assisting and educating Australians to get 'vote ready' for the upcoming referendum.

Your Answer Matters will provide a range of information resources as well as translated and accessible material.

Australian Electoral Commissioner Tom Rogers said the campaign is deliberately starting before the referendum voting date is announced.

"It's been 24 years since we last had a referendum," Mr Rogers said.

"Approximately 6.4 million enrolled Australians weren't of voting age when we had our most recent referendum in 1999 – for a lot of people the role of a referendum won't be familiar.

"This campaign ramps up the public education we've been doing all year, educating Australians about the importance of referendums and how to cast a formal vote."

Following a recent announcement of record growth in general, Indigenous and youth enrolment rates, the campaign will continue encouraging voters to update their enrolment details or enrol to vote.

"This isn't the time to rest on our laurels," Mr Rogers said.

"We've seen record growth over the past six months but we're conscious there's still more to do – and it's also important that newly-enrolled Australians turn out to vote at the referendum as well."

The Your Answer Matters campaign will explain why referendums are held, how to correctly complete the ballot paper and encourages people to check the source of information about the voting process.

Campaign material will feature on television, online video, radio, cinema, press, digital display, and social media, with translated material available for culturally and linguistically diverse and First Nations audiences.

Coinciding with the rollout of the Your Answer Matters campaign, the AEC has also launched a dedicated resource website for Australia's 17.5 million voters to utilise.

The website provides details about referendums, voting and essential information for campaigners in the lead up to referendum day.

The Indigenous Voice to parliament referendum is expected to be held in the final quarter of the year.

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