Media Release 1998: A Week to Get on the Roll

30 August 1998

There may be more than four weeks until polling day but there is just a week until the rolls for the coming election are closed.

The Electoral Commissioner, Mr Bill Gray, said today that electors only had until 8pm next Monday 7 September to make sure that they are correctly enrolled.

"The announcement of an election acts as a reminder to a lot of people who haven't yet enrolled to fill out an enrolment form," Mr Gray said.

"Most of these are young, first time voters who hadn't yet got around to enrolling."

But by far the largest group of people who will contact the Electoral Commission over the coming days, will be people who have changed address and have forgotten to update their enrolment.

"At the last election more than 70% of the cards received during this final week were to notify the AEC of change of address," Mr Gray said.

Anyone needing to check their enrolment can ring the Commission on 13 23 26 between 8am and 6pm.

For the 1996 election there were almost 11.75 million people on the Commonwealth electoral roll. Currently there are nearly 12 million people on the roll.

Enrolment forms are available from Post Offices, offices of the Australian Electoral Commission or they can be printed from the AEC web site here.

Completed enrolment forms must be received by the Commission by 8pm on 7 September.

Enrolling and voting are compulsory in Australia's federal elections for all Australian citizens 18 years or older.

AEC contacts:
Brien Hallett
Phone: (02) 62714 415

Bernadette O'Meara
Phone: (02) 62714 548