Low remote voting turnout - 2020 Territory Election

The Northern Territory Electoral Commission is concerned by what appears to be a growing divide in participation between urban and remote electors.

Remote voter turnout in a number of the “bush” electorates over the 2020 Territory Election mobile voting period to date has been poor. With only one full day of remote voting to go this is unlikely change.

“In percentage terms, the division of Arafura will again fail to reach a turnout of just 50 per cent.

The turnout in a number of other remote divisions will likely be just over 50 per cent,” NTEC Commissioner Iain Loganathan said.

“There are many factors that have contributed to the low voter numbers in remote areas.

“Anecdotally our voting teams have reported that there have been many funerals and ceremonies that were delayed by the COVID-19 Pandemic which are now taking place.”

Many people have also been absent from their communities when remote voting teams have been there. The large community of Maningrida in the electorate of Arafura provides one example.

There are 1529 people on the electoral roll for Maningrida, however, just 24 per cent turned out to vote.

“Remote voting teams, for the first time, were in Maningrida for two days instead of one,” Mr Loganathan said.

“But we were told that most people in the town were not there.

Anecdotally, we were told that nearly all that were there did vote.” Mr Loganathan said that while COVID-19 implications appeared to be having an adverse effect on remote turnout, he believes the problem is more systemic.

“People living in urban areas have their enrolment details updated automatically through the Australian Electoral Commission’s Federal Direct Enrolment Update system.

“But that system does not operate in areas where there is no postal delivery to the street address.

“This has led to a decline in roll accuracy in remote communities, making it difficult to measure actual participation," Mr Loganathan said.

“What we do know is that many Aboriginal Territorians are not on the electoral roll, and many of those who are don’t vote.

“The gradual and eventual shutdown of remote enrolment programs has also served to disenfranchise remote voters because without that program there is no continuity in remote areas in terms of electoral education and awareness."

At a recent parliamentary inquiry the Australian Electoral Commissioner Tom Rogers said: "We have had experience of going into some Indigenous communities and they've simply said, 'we are not enrolling, we are disengaged from Australian society, and it doesn't matter how many visits you do, we will not enrol’."

“It would be easy to blame the circumstances that have occurred as a result of the COVID-19 Pandemic for the low turnout.

But in reality, remote turnout in the Territory has been an issue for decades,” Mr Loganathan said.

“The voter numbers from remote communities make it clear that participation in the democratic process is just not a priority.

“How, and whether this view can change is not just a question for the NTEC, it is an issue of concern for every Territorian.”

More information go to www.ntec.nt.gov.au