



Jump in no-show voters at ACT poll


Stephanie Anderson

There was a 14.5 per cent increase in failure to vote notices in the ACT this year.

There was a 14.5 per cent increase in failure to vote notices in the ACT this year. Photo: Karleen Minney



























  • Imagine what the rate would be if voting were not compulsory or there was no fine. Sad comment on the quality of our political leadership and on the lack of vibrancy of our democracy. Is democracy still the right system for us? Many dont seem to care anyway. Suggest many have just given up on any possibility of affecting the outcome and policies. They have effectively been 'switched off' by the system; maybe time for a re-think by all parties on how to engage people; if they keep doing what they have done to date, the system will further degrade.

    Blue Leader
    Date and time
    December 12, 2012, 12:40PM
    • Well, can’t really blame them, look who we had to vote for!
      And I assume that if just over 19 thousand people failed to vote then there will be 19 thousand failure to vote fines issued?

      Vote for Pedro
      Date and time
      December 12, 2012, 12:46PM
      • If you look at parties like the bullet train party - I reckon some of these are protest votes because the main parties have no real ideas.

        Date and time
        December 12, 2012, 12:47PM
        • As 15% of people did not vote, then logically there should be 15% less politicians. 2.55 ACT politicians should be kicked out.

          Date and time
          December 12, 2012, 1:27PM
          • I am ecstatic that more Australians are exercising their RIGHT not to vote when they dont feel anyone will represent them.

            It is an absolute travesty that the RIGHT TO VOTE, has been turned into an OBLIGATION TO VOTE

            Democracy shouldnt need coercion.

            I am so sick of the patronising people that think all the "dumb and poor" people need someone to force them to vote. Dont people ever consider that simply not voting is a valid democractic action and that over time, low voter turnouts may be the exact thing we need for other political forces to break through.

            The two major parties have benefited for too long from compulsary voting, which is why they both support it (along with the Greens! who scoop up protest votes).

            Date and time
            December 12, 2012, 2:17PM
            • Fine them all $20 and raise some money for the A.C.T.

              Date and time
              December 12, 2012, 2:30PM
              • Voting should be a choice, not compulsary. I know if I had a choice I certainly wouldn't be voting, especially in the ACT - as it doesn't matter who you vote for here because Labor always gets elected.

                Not surprised by those numbers, there's just no one worth voting for in the ACT (even nationally).

                Canberra, Australia
                Date and time
                December 12, 2012, 2:32PM
                • Agree Adzz. If voting wasn't compulsory, the ALP wouldn't win an election at either State of Federal level.

                  Date and time
                  December 12, 2012, 9:53PM
              • While normally a staunch defencer of the democratic process - I really have to agree with the ones who didn't vote. I'd also suggest that the results would have been just as dismal if they had voted.

                Outraged of Palmerston
                Date and time
                December 12, 2012, 3:20PM
                • How many only voted because of the fine, did they donkey vote, I saw one chap book in then fold the sheet and put in ballot box.
                  Look at the quality of the field, why would you bother, Mr Corbell got 1909 primary votes and still got a guernsey, I repeat, why would you bother.

                  Nitro Gangster
                  Date and time
                  December 12, 2012, 3:26PM

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