For Official Use Only (FOUO)
DIVERGENCE
ROLL DIVERGENCE
Issue
How can electoral rolls diverge?
Headline Statement
•
Electoral roll divergence occurs where an elector has a different enrolment for
state and federal purposes.
Key Points
•
Divergence is caused when there is either a difference in legislation or a
difference in electoral roll practice between the Commonwealth and a state or
territory.
–
New South Wales and Victoria have the highest levels of divergence. I
am advised that this is largely due to the direct enrolment programs run
by the NSW and Victorian Electoral Commissions
–
Western Australia has the next largest divergence. I am advised that this
results mainly from differences between State and Commonwealth law.
•
Electoral roll divergence can cause considerable confusion at election time,
particularly where enrolments are for different addresses for state and federal
purposes. A similar situation occurs where eligible voters are not enrolled to
vote in one jurisdiction but are enrolled in the other jurisdiction.
•
As at 29 February 2016, the number of electors with a different Federal and
State enrolment was 560,220.
•
I am advised that the Australian Electoral Commission is continuing to
actively address this matter. In recent months the numbers of divergent elector
records has been substantially reduced.
Date Updated: 1 April 2016
Cleared by Adviser: Daniel Try
Date Last Printed:
PDR Number: QB15-000362
1
For Official Use Only (FOUO)
For Official Use Only (FOUO)
DIVERGENCE
Background
The causes of divergence include differences in legislation in relation to direct enrolment
programs (Victoria, New South Wales and Western Australia); differences in witnessing
requirements (particularly in Victoria); and differing legislation for the enrolment of prisoners,
other territories (such as Norfolk Island), British subjects and overseas electors.
On 29 February 2016, there were 560,000 enrolments for persons aged 18 and over that were
divergent due to procedural reasons.
Single enrolment
Dual enrolment (a)
Total
Federal only
State only
Federal leading
State leading
NSW
-
69,427
95
93,260
162,782
VIC
70,452
34,012
58,520
72,358
235,342
QLD
-
-
1
-
1
WA
59,908
590
100,218
275
160,991
SA
6
808
7
281
1,102
TAS
-
-
-
-
-
ACT
-
-
1
-
1
NT
1
-
-
-
1
Total
130,367
104,837
158,842
166,174
560,220
The difference between the State/Territory rolls and the Commonwealth roll is smaller than the
overall divergence because some electors are enrolled at both Commonwealth and
State/Territory level, but at different addresses.
There are also some electors who are only eligible to vote in Federal elections, while others are
only eligible to vote in state/territory elections.
As at 29 February 2016, the following numbers of persons aged 18 and over were respectively
enrolled on the Commonwealth electoral roll and the relevant state or territory roll in relation to
each of the states and territories.
Difference between
Commonwealth over
Commonwealth
State
Roll
State Roll
Who is larger
Number
%
NSW
5,029,890
5,104,327
State
-74,437
-1.5%
VIC
3,902,571
3,860,841
Federal
41,730
1.1%
Qld
3,028,883
3,027,553
Federal
1,330
0.0%
WA
1,549,959
1,486,325
Federal
63,634
4.1%
SA
1,166,818
1,167,672
State
-854
-0.1%
Tas
369,208
369,155
Federal
53
0.0%
Date Updated: 1 April 2016
Cleared by Adviser: Daniel Try
Date Last Printed:
PDR Number: QB15-000362
2
For Official Use Only (FOUO)
For Official Use Only (FOUO)
DIVERGENCE
ACT
275,603
275,107
Federal
496
0.2%
NT
129,922
129,921
Federal
1
0.0%
Australia
15,452,854
15,420,901
Federal
31,953
0.2%
Date Updated: 1 April 2016
Cleared by Adviser: Daniel Try
Date Last Printed:
PDR Number: QB15-000362
3
For Official Use Only (FOUO)