Part of the book series:Elections, Voting, Technology ((EVT))
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Abstract
This chapter examines national election participation rates over the past two decades and identifies a recurring pattern of below average turn out in a small number of seats, suggesting that these constitute fault lines in the otherwise widespread consensus of public compliance with compulsory voting. These seats fall into two main categories. The first are remotes seats with comparatively high rates of Indigenous population, and this confirms a chronic and well recognised issue of concern regarding low Indigenous participation in the electoral process. The second are affluent inner urban seats in Australia’s major cities of Melbourne and Sydney in which highly educated young people are clustered. The latter pattern might presage a potential weakening in the public’s support for compulsory voting.
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Notes
- 1.
Some reports claim that turnout in elections held in 1955 fell below 90%. The turnout rate was affected by a number of uncontested seats occurring. Other reports seek to adjust the result to accommodate uncontested seats and find a participation rate of 95%. See Australia (2005):https://www.aph.gov.au/About_Parliament/Parliamentary_Departments/Parliamentary_Library/pubs/rp/rp1617/FederalElectionResults#_Toc390336867.
- 2.
The history of opposition to compulsory voting is discussed by Paul Strangio in another chapter in this volume.
- 3.
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Monash University, Politics and International Relations, Melbourne, Australia
Nicholas Economou
- Nicholas Economou
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Correspondence toNicholas Economou.
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Politics and International Relations, Monash University, Clayton, VIC, Australia
Matteo Bonotti
Politics and International Relations, Monash University, Clayton, VIC, Australia
Paul Strangio
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Economou, N. (2021). Non-participation in Australian National Elections: Fault-Lines in the Compulsory Voting Consensus. In: Bonotti, M., Strangio, P. (eds) A Century of Compulsory Voting in Australia. Elections, Voting, Technology. Palgrave Macmillan, Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-33-4025-1_6
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