Can you be forced to vote in Australia?

Yes, under federal electoral law, it is compulsory for all eligible Australian citizens to enrol and vote in federal elections, by-elections and referendums.

What happens if you dont want to vote in Australia?

Electors who fail to vote at a State election, and do not provide a valid and sufficient reason for such failure, will be fined. The penalty for first time offenders is $20, and this increases to $50 if you have previously paid a penalty or been convicted of this offence.

Why does Australia have a compulsory voting system?

Compulsory voting keeps the Australian political system responsive to the people. New parties and candidates (like Katter’s Australian Party) who lack wealthy backing can contest elections without spending large sums of money just to get the voters to polling booths.

When was the voting age lowered to 18 in Australia?

The voting age for all federal elections was lowered from 21 to 18 in 1973.

Do we need changes to the Australian electoral system?

Despite parliamentary enquiries after each Commonwealth election, there is generally little call for major changes to be made to Australian electoral systems. On balance it seems that Australia has found arrangements that suit the needs of its people, its parties and its parliamentarians.

How does Australia elect its parliament?

Australia is a representative democracy. All citizens aged 18 years and over have the right and responsibility to participate in Australia’s democracy by enrolling to vote and voting for people to represent them in parliament. Representatives elected to the parliament make laws and decisions on behalf of the nation. Voting for a nation

How many electoral divisions are there in Australia?

Australia is divided into single-member divisions which have approximately the same number of electors. There are currently 150 electoral divisions, or electorates, but the number of divisions may change slightly between elections due to redistributions of electoral boundaries.

How many political parties are there in Australia?

A record 54 political parties are registered to contest the federal election. All you need to know about Australia’s voting system. Australia goes to the polls for the 44th time since federation in 1901 on September 7. Federal elections in Australia are always held on a Saturday.