Senator Steve Fielding
With a phone call you could extend the vote to potentially hundreds of thousands. With an email you could improve our democracy.
Today the Senate votes on the Electoral and Referendum Amendment (Close of Rolls and Other Measures) Bill 2010. Amongst other things this bill seeks to allow eligible voters to enrol for seven days after an election is announced.
Election announcements can happen unexpectedly, and many people do not keep their enrolment details completely up to date. Under current law they have until 8pm that day to fix their enrolment status, often quite a difficult task, or else they're ineligible to vote. Worst affected by this are the nation's young people whose electoral details change quite regularly.
In the lead-up to the 2007 election the current government promised to extend that time, back to the traditional 7 days. Today in Canberra the decision on whether or not to fulfil this promise and give back the vote to those many thousands who would otherwise lose it lies with one person: Senator Steven Fielding.
Senator Fielding holds the last vote required to give the vote back to so many, and as of yet has not said how he intends to wield that vote. This is where you come in. You can call and email Senator Fielding to let him know how important you feel this issue is. Let him know that you want him to vote for this Bill, specifically this measure. Then invite your contact list to this event; today is the last day in which to send this message, so the more the better.
Today we can ensure that every eligible voter has the best possible opportunity to have their vote counted!
Tel: (02) 6277 3711
Fax: (02) 6277 5713
Email: senator.fielding@aph.gov.au