Queenslanders, will you be enrolled to vote at next Federal election?

More than 250,000 Queenslanders are eligible to enrol to vote but have not done so, Attorney-General Kerry Shine said today.

Mr Shine said those unenrolled Queenslanders should not wait for the Federal election to be called later this year to make sure they can vote.

"New Federal legislation has dramatically reduced the time for people to enrol to vote after the election is called," Mr Shine said.

"There is no longer a full week to enrol after the writ for the election is issued."

"People enrolling to vote for the first time and those people re-enrolling must now do so by 8pm the day the writ is issued. Previously enrolments could be made for a week after the writ was issued."

Mr Shine said voting was a right and obligation for Australian citizens over 18 years of age.

"I am concerned people, particularly young Australians, will not be enrolled and will not cast their first vote at a Federal election," Mr Shine said.

"Recent estimates indicate more than 300,000 young Australians are not enrolled to vote."

Mr Shine said he secured in-principle support for a Queensland proposal for a national summit to promote greater civic involvement and voter enrolment among young Australians.

People seeking assistance with enrolment can contact the Electoral Commission of Queensland or the Australian Electoral Commission or obtain an enrolment form from the Australia Post office.

The Electoral Commission of Queensland can be contacted on 1300 881 665, while the Australian Electoral Commission can be contacted on 13 23 26.

3 May 2007
Media contact: Kirby Anderson 3239 6400 or 0418 197 350
kirby.anderson@ministerial.qld.gov.au