A RECORD number of Australians are enrolled to vote ahead of the upcoming referendum on the Indigenous voice to Parliament.<\/p>\n
The estimated national enrolment rate is 97.5 per cent, up from 97.1 per cent at the end of 2022, a spokesperson for the Australian Electoral Commission said.<\/p>\n
This means the 2023 referendum will have the best baseline for democratic participation than any Federal electoral event in Australian history.<\/p>\n
Enrolments for Indigenous Australians and Northern Territorians are above 90 per cent for the first time ever.<\/p>\n
There are 60,000 more Indigenous Australians enrolled than there were at the end of last year.<\/p>\n
Young Australians between 18 and 24 years old have also reached their highest enrolment rate at 90.3 per cent, up from 87.6 per cent six months ago.<\/p>\n
AEC commissioner Tom Rogers said Australians should be proud of the results which were nothing short of a “modern democratic miracle.\u201d<\/p>\n
“If Australia’s enrolment is not the best in the world, it’d be incredibly close – my international counterparts are often flabbergasted at how we get enrolment so high,” he said.<\/p>\n
“Enrolment continues to go up nationally, every state and territory’s enrolment rates are at – or near – record highs, traditionally lower enrolled sections of society have their enrolment rates keep going up.<\/p>\n
“It’s a phenomenal success story.”<\/p>\n