Australian Electoral Roll Case Study

The principal problem of the project is to determine why many young people do not register on the Australian electoral roll despite compulsory enrolment and voting provisions in legislation. The AEC estimates indicate that at the 2004 electoral roll close, approximately 82% young Australians (17-25 years of age) were enrolled (compared with 95% of other Australians), on the electoral roll. Apart from the fact that enrolment and voting are compulsory, the under- registration of eligible young people raises questions about their political interest and commitment to their civic responsibility