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.
•
The
Electoral Amendment Act 2016 (WA) was passed on 29 June 2016 and
includes the update of Western Australia state records to align with the Federal
Direct Enrolment and Update (FDEU) program. This has reduced divergence
between the Commonwealth and Western Australia state rolls.
•
As at 21 August 2016, the number of electors nationally, with a different Federal
and State enrolment was 287,420.
•
I am advised that the Australian Electoral Commission (AEC) is continuing to
actively address this matter. In recent months the numbers of divergent elector
records has been substantially reduced.
Policy Commitments
•
N/A
Contact: Andrew Gately
Cleared by: Tom Rogers
Contact No: (02) 6271 4506
Contact No: (02) 6271 4400
Division: AEC Roll Management Branch
Cleared by Adviser:
Date Updated: 23 August 2016
PDR Number: QB16-000250
Date Last Printed: 15/01/2017 8:50 AM
1
ROLL DIVERGENCE
Background
The causes of divergence include differences in legislation in relation to direct enrolment
programs (Victoria and New South Wales); differences in witnessing requirements
(particularly in Victoria); and differing legislation for the enrolment of prisoners, British
subjects and overseas electors.
The AEC has been working with the Western Australia Electoral Commission and has
retrospectively aligned electors whose enrolment had diverged from their federal enrolment
due to FDEU.
As at 21 August, of the 287,420 divergent electors, 93,823 are in New South Wales,
180,490 in Victoria and 11,918 in Western Australia. The remainder of divergent electors
are spread over the other states and the ACT.
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 21 August 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.
Difference between
Commonwealth over
State
Commonwealth Roll
State Roll
Who is larger
Number
%
NSW
5,131,324
5,179,566 State
-48,242
-0.9%
VIC
4,002,733
3,962,536 Federal
40,197
1.0%
Qld
3,088,230
3,087,697 Federal
533
0.0%
WA
1,587,322
1,585,045 Federal
2,277
0.1%
SA
1,186,290
1,187,233 State
-943
-0.1%
Tas
375,210
375,155 Federal
55
0.0%
ACT
283,597
283,141 Federal
456
0.2%
NT
136,524
136,524 Federal
0
0.0%
Australia
15,791,230
15,796,897
State
-5,667
0.0%
Contact: Andrew Gately
Cleared by: Tom Rogers
Contact No: (02) 6271 4506
Contact No: (02) 6271 4400
Division: AEC Roll Management Branch
Cleared by Adviser:
Date Updated: 23 August 2016
PDR Number: QB16-000250
Date Last Printed: 15/01/2017 8:50 AM
2
