1 week Ago By Madeline Link
THE clock is ticking with just hours for Novocastrians to make sure they are correctly enrolled in Australia's largest federal election. Login or signup to continue reading Australian Electoral Commissioner Jeff Pope said the announcement voters will head to the ballot box on May 3 was the starter's gun for the AEC to deliver the country's biggest election. "There's no time to lose," he said.
"This federal election will have a record high level of enrolment. It is just a question of how high it gets. The roll will comprise around 98 per cent of those eligible, something largely unheard of around the world.
"If you track back to 2010, enrolment was sitting at around 90 per cent. We've worked incredibly hard to further build the base for democratic participation in Australia, and it's come a very long way." The electoral roll closes on Monday at 8pm and Australian citizens aged 18 or older are required to vote.
The Hunter battleground could determine the outcome of the federal election , with strong debates around energy, particularly coal, nuclear and offshore wind , healthcare, industrial relations reform and cost of living. Paterson is one of the country's most marginal seats, with heavy hitters from both major parties expected to spend plenty of time in the electorate ahead of the election. This election there are 710,000 more people on the electoral roll and 570 early voting centres.
The AEC has confirmed that this election will have the most complete electoral roll for any Australian federal election ever. Around 18 million people are enrolled, which is approximately 98 per cent of all eligible Australians. The highest ever.
In the six days after the election was announced, about 200,000 enrolment transactions were submitted, both new enrolments and people updating their details. More than 250,000 pencils are expected to be used at some 7000 polling places across the country. According to the AEC, Australia's enrolment rate is the envy of most democratic nations, with the last estimate at 97.
8 per cent at the end of 2024. Mr Pope said no matter what a person's circumstances are, the AEC has voting options available. "Enrolling takes less than five minutes and can be done online," he said.
"For the first time at a federal election, you can now use your Medicare card to enrol, it's never been easier. A total of 150 seats will be contested at the 2025 federal election. A list of early voting centres will be available on the AEC website soon.
Early voting starts on Tuesday 22 April. Once the enrolment deadline has passed, members of the public will not be able to enrol or update their enrolment details in time for the 2025 federal election. To enrol or update details, visit the AEC website.
Madeline Link is a born and bred Novocastrian who started her career as a journalist in the New England North West in 2016. She is an experienced council and court reporter, former deputy editor of the Northern Daily Leader and two-time Kennedy Award finalist. In unrelated incidents, she previously reported on country music in Australia's country music capital and was once flung across Lake Macquarie in a power boat at more than 100 kilometres per hour.
Maddie now works at the Newcastle Herald with a focus on Newcastle council. To keep up with my stories, follow my X @madeline_link, for tips email madeline.link@newcastleherald.
com.au. Madeline Link is a born and bred Novocastrian who started her career as a journalist in the New England North West in 2016.
She is an experienced council and court reporter, former deputy editor of the Northern Daily Leader and two-time Kennedy Award finalist. In unrelated incidents, she previously reported on country music in Australia's country music capital and was once flung across Lake Macquarie in a power boat at more than 100 kilometres per hour. Maddie now works at the Newcastle Herald with a focus on Newcastle council.
To keep up with my stories, follow my X @madeline_link, for tips email [email protected].
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