Media Release 2004: Australian electors being asked to check their enrolment details

26 May 2004

Encouraging all eligible Australians to be correctly recorded on the electoral roll, is the drive behind a major mailout to almost two million Australians in most parts of Australia by the Australian Electoral Commission (AEC).

The Electoral Commissioner, Andy Becker said that the AEC was sending a letter to these Australians in the week commencing 31 May 2004, as part of the AEC's ongoing work to maintain the accuracy of the electoral roll.

"The letter is asking these selected Australians to check whether they are correctly enrolled, a job which has particular importance as we head towards an election expected later this year," he said.

"I encourage everyone who receives this letter to carefully check their enrolment details and send any changes to the AEC on the form provided. Even if all the enrolment details in the letter are correct, the letter asks people to respond."

The AEC letters are being sent to people in households that the AEC hasn't heard from in the last two years, and have been unable to verify their enrolment status through other available data.

Mr Becker said that the mailout was being supported by a national advertising and public relations campaign to raise awareness of the importance of the letters, and also to target Australians who needed to update their details on the electoral roll but may not receive a letter.

"This is an opportunity for all eligible Australian electors who need to update their details on the electoral roll or enrol for the first time. All they need to do is fill out a new enrolment form available from the AEC website at www.aec.gov.au, any Australia Post Office or by ringing 13 23 26," he said.

"If you're an Australian citizen, aged 18 years or older then you're eligible to enrol and vote in federal elections, and in fact it is compulsory that you do."

The mailout is just one of the many activities the AEC constantly undertakes, as part of its Continuous Roll Update Program, to ensure the electoral roll is as up-to-date and complete as possible at all times.

Mr Becker said that the electoral roll was in good shape, but the AEC had to be constantly on the job because the roll was a dynamic document which needed to reflect that every day Australians changed address and turned 18.

Further information:

Brien Hallett, Mobile : 0413 274 798

Assistant Commissioner, Work: 02 6271 4477

Public Awareness, Media and Research

Australian Electoral Commission