27 May 2007

A national media advertising campaign encouraging all Australians to value their vote and to enrol before this year’s federal election, was launched today by the Australian Electoral Commission (AEC).

The Electoral Commissioner, Ian Campbell said the campaign was the most significant pre-election enrolment advertising the AEC has ever conducted .

“We are advertising now because a federal election will occur this year, and in light of the changed deadlines for enrolling or updating enrolment for federal elections, it is even more important to publicise enrolment messages earlier,” he said.

The advertisements encourage all eligible Australians, including youth as first time voters, to enrol before the federal election with the clear message that waiting to enrol in an election year might mean you risk missing out on your vote.

The AEC’s enrolment campaign, which includes three different stages of advertisements, will initially run for six weeks on television, cinema, radio, outdoor and in newspapers, magazines and on-line websites. The advertisements will extend across our community with the print advertisements translated into 20 languages and the radio advertisements translated into 26 languages as well as 11 indigenous languages.

“The first television advertisement highlights the value of your vote and reminds us this is a federal election year. This will be followed in later weeks by advertisements drawing attention to the changes to enrolment deadlines and that waiting to enrol or updating your details might mean missing out on your vote,” Mr Campbell said.

This advertising campaign is part of the AEC’s ongoing communication program to inform the community about the changes in electoral law and to promote enrolment, with another important activity to commence tomorrow.

The inaugural national Enrol to Vote Week will start tomorrow and involve over 1,700 secondary schools and colleges across Australia actively encouraging their 17 and 18 year old students to enrol during the week.

Mr Campbell said while the AEC was working hard to encourage everyone to be correctly enrolled before the election, he reminded Australians that it remained their responsibility to enrol and update their enrolment when they moved address.

“You can check your enrolment status at www.aec.gov.au, by calling 13 23 26 or visiting an AEC office. Enrolment forms are available on the AEC website or at any AEC office or Australia Post outlet,“ he said.

Still images of the AEC first advertisement are available by ringing (02) 6271 4419.

More information:

Phil Diak
Director, Media and Communication Strategy
Australian Electoral Commission
Ph. (02) 6271 4415
Mobile: 0413 452 539