Concern over remote voting numbers - 2020 Territory Election

The NTEC is concerned about voting numbers in remote communities following the first three days of voting in the 2020 Territory Election.

Following the close of voting on Wednesday, NTEC remote mobile voting teams had visited 51 remote communities across the Territory.

The remote voting teams visit many smaller communities in the first week with most of the larger communities visited next week.

Those 51 communities visited until the close of voting Wednesday have a combined total of 3,801 people on the electoral roll, but only 1,856 cast their vote during remote voting.

“One example was in Kaltukatjara, where there are 272 people on the roll, but only 85 voted,” NTEC Commissioner Iain Loganathan said.

“In total, of the 51 communities visited so far, 15 of those with an enrolment number of 50 or above have recorded voter turnouts of less than 50 per cent.

“A number of community residents will cast their vote while in town or visiting another community, however, historically the number of votes taken outside the community have not been significant.”

In collaboration with Aboriginal media organisations CAAMA and First Nations Broadcasting, the NTEC has delivered a public awareness campaign right across the Territory, including radio, TV and social media content produced and broadcast in eight Aboriginal languages.

“The times and locations of voting in remote areas are also broadcast daily on local radio stations and posted on social media and the NTEC website,” Mr Loganathan said.

“Electors in communities who have supplied their mobile phone numbers through enrolment are also sent SMS messages the day before remote voting teams go to the their community.”

With more than a week left of remote voting and more than 100 communities still to visit, Mr Loganathan said he was hopeful that those figures would improve.

“Hopefully in the bigger communities such as Maningrida and Wadeye there will be strong turnouts.”

The remote voting period has extended by two days allowing NTEC remote voting teams to provide two days of voting in the bigger communities.

Historically they have only stayed there for one day. “It is important that remote electors are heard,” Mr Loganathan said.

“We only get one chance every four years to have a say in the Territory’s future.”