Australian Electoral Commission launch drive to boost Indigenous enrolment

Callan Morse Published November 30, 2022 at 11.30am (AWST)

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The Australian Electoral Commission has launched their First Nations enrolment drive named 'Our Vote. Our Future.' Image: Australian Electoral Commission.

The Australian Electoral Commission (AEC) has launched a First Nations enrolment drive, aimed at empowering Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people across Australia to have their say in elections.

The month-long campaign, which includes advertising and other communications campaigning, is designed to address the estimated 100,000+ eligible Indigenous people who are not currently enrolled to vote.

Although Australia's estimated Indigenous enrolment rate is at an all-time high, there are reports that in the Northern Territory alone, there are 40,000 First Nations adults not enrolled to vote.

"We're not going to be satisfied until we've closed the gap with the broader national enrolment rate," said Australian Electoral Commissioner Tom Rogers.

Mr Rogers emphasises the importance of a high Indigenous enrolment rate with the increased likelihood of a referendum relevant to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.

"There is clearly the likelihood of a referendum soon with a topic specific to First Nations Australians, making high levels of enrolment and engagement even more important," he said.

Deputy Electoral Commissioner and AEC Indigenous Champion Jeff Pope will head-up the AEC's continued effort to increase First Nations participation in elections.

Mr Pope said the AEC will be pulling out all the stops to increase the Indigenous enrolment rate nationwide.

"This focused advertising campaign is part of a range of continuing engagement efforts we're undertaking that has seen year-on-year growth in First Nations enrolment since 2017, and the largest rise in estimated First Nations enrolment occur this past year," he said.

In recent years Mr Pope has travelled to a number of remote Indigenous communities to hear from community Elders about societal changes experienced by First Nations Australians that lead to electoral non-participation.

Jeff Pope (centre) recently travelled to many remote Aboriginal communities

"It is critical that enrolment for all Australians is as high as possible for the proposed federal referendum but this is also a body of work the AEC has been focussing on for many years, and that's reflected in the roll growth," he said.

Mr Rogers said that after broad consultation, changes to voter identification have been made to simplify the enrolment process for voters without an accepted identification document.

"We've listened to feedback from voters that this was cumbersome and a barrier to enrolling," he said.

"Now, you'll be able to have an enrolled voter vouch for your identity entirely online – no printer required."

The advertising campaign will run on First Nations-focused television, radio and online media across the country until mid-December.