The number of young people enrolling to vote significantly increased between 2013 and this year’s Federal Election in July.
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Australian Electoral Commission figures show that in 2013 around 400,000 were not enrolled with this dropping to 254,432 in 2016.
Active campaigning using television, print, radio and digital advertisements have aided this drop.
The AEC distributed the message about enrolling to young people through employers, education institutions and sport networks.
The AEC also collaborated with Triple J, which aired grabs of leading musicians promoting voting enrolment.
There were 90,000 new enrolments of 18 to 24 year olds between the announcement of the election and the closing of the rolls.
Although there has been improvement, youth participation continues to be comparatively lower than the rest of the population.
By the time the electoral roll closed this year only 71.1% of 18 year olds were registered to cast their vote. These figures were even lower in Tasmania.
Youth disengagement with politics remains a key factor. However AEC spokeman Evan Ekin-Smyth noted that once 18 year olds are enrolled to vote they must maintain their enrolment when they move out of home for work, university or travel.
“These factors could provide a barrier to up to date enrolment,” Mr Ekin-Smyth said.
In contrast, older Australians are not faced with this problem and are more likely to be at the same address from election to election.
Mr Ekin-Smyth, highlighted that “one of the greatest motivations for people to vote is their passion about certain issues.”
Launceston College student, Bronte Whish-Wilson said that she wants her voice to be listened to.
She recognised issues of climate change, deregulation of university fees and mental health as a concern to youth.
The 17-year-old identified that high school should be a time when students are engaged with politics.
“Politics should be taught to young people to help engage them in the future and remind them of the importance of having their voices heard,” Bronte said.
Politics should be taught to young people to help engage them in the future and remind them of the importance of having their voices heard.
She is one of 75,782 teenagers aged 16 and 17, as of the June 30 this year, who are already politically savvy by registering to vote early.
Although these figures show a percentage of youth are ready, there are no plans for the voting age to be lowered.
To enrol visit www.aec.gov.au/enrol
