Media Release 2010: Enrol to Vote Week underway in over 1600 schools

Enrol to Vote Week 2010 (ETVW) which begins today in secondary schools around the country, will see thousands of young Australians actively participating in our democracy for the first time by enrolling to vote.

A total of 1664 schools are registered to participate in ETVW, which is running from 17-23 May 2010, and involves the AEC working in partnership with Australian secondary schools to encourage 17- and 18-year-old students to enrol to vote.

Electoral Commissioner, Ed Killesteyn said that the high participation rate of Australian schools in ETVW this year would help to boost enrolment figures of young Australians, and also boost the health of our Australian democracy.

"We're pleased to have the support of so many schools and I would like to personally thank principals and teachers for getting their schools involved in the event," Mr Killesteyn said.

This year the ETVW theme is 'you never know when an election might be called' which is particularly relevant considering a federal election could be called this year.

The AEC is supporting Enrol to Vote Week by providing enrolment forms, educational resources, promotional materials and other information to schools and on the ETVW website.

AEC officers will also be visiting schools in their local area during the week to help students to complete their enrolment forms at school.

For more information about the initiative, or to see which schools in your local community are participating in ETVW visit enroltovoteweek.aec.gov.au.

Media enquiries:
Pieta Horgan
Director, Media
Ph. (02) 6271 4415
Mob. 0411658085