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 at the Commonwealth and state/territory level when
there is either a difference in legislation or a difference in electoral roll
management.
–
New South Wales (NSW) and Victoria have the highest levels of
divergence. I am advised this is largely due to the direct enrolment
programs run by the NSW and Victorian Electoral Commission.
–
Western Australia has the next largest divergence. I am advised this
results mainly from differences between state and Commonwealth law.
•
As at 31 March 2016 2016, the number of electors nationally, with a different
federal and state enrolment, was 596 986.
•
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: 22 April 2016 
Cleared by Adviser:  
Date Last Printed:  
PDR Number: QB16-000157 
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. 
Of the 596 986 divergent electors, 181 626 are in New South Wales, 254 798 in Victoria 
and 159 438 in Western Australia.  
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. 
The difference in the size of the Commonwealth and State/Territory rolls is not reflective 
of those people with a divergent enrolment. 
As at 31 March 2016, the following table shows the numbers of persons aged 18 and over 
enrolled on the Commonwealth electoral roll and the relevant state or territory roll in 
relation to each of the states and territories. 
 
 
 
Commonwealth  State Roll 
Who is larger  Difference between 
 
Roll 
 
 
Commonwealth over 
 
State 
Number 
% 
NSW  
5,030,350 
5,110,009 
State 
-79,659 
-1.6% 
VIC 
3,905,268 
3,866,949 
Federal 
38,319 
1.0% 
Qld 
3,038,558 
3,036,929 
Federal 
1,629 
0.1% 
WA 
1,550,786 
1,487,765 
Federal 
63,021 
4.1% 
SA 
1,167,453 
1,168,255 
State 
-802 
-0.1% 
Tas 
369,406 
369,354 
Federal 
52 
0.0% 
ACT 
276,398 
275,900 
Federal 
498 
0.2% 
NT 
130,110 
130,109 
Federal 
1 
0.0% 
Australia 
15,468,329 
15,445,270 
Federal 
23,059 
0.1% 
 
Date Updated: 22 April 2016 
Cleared by Adviser:  
 
Date Last Printed:  
PDR Number: QB16-000157  
2 
 
For Official Use Only (FOUO) 
 

---