Do you still need to vote if you havent enrolled?

[Mieow]

If you never submitted that form when you turn 18 to vote, do you still need to vote for these elections?

[chasej]

Voting is compulsory for all those over 18 but if you haven't enrolled they wouldn't know if you voted or not. You can enrol on the day if you bring photo ID with your address on to the voting place (I'm pretty sure).

[uni_student]

What if you don't enrol or vote this year, but then enrol and want to vote next election. Would you get a fine?

[meganrobyn]

You have a legal obligation to enrol - not just to vote. I don't know what the consequences are, but you can check.

The AEC also does automatic enrolling based on data from other government agencies. In other words, even if you haven't enrolled, they may have enrolled you on your behalf and know you're meant to vote. So you should really just enrol. It's a civic responsibility, anyway, and if we don't take it seriously we're kind of disrespecting a democratic system that, despite its shitness in many ways, is something millions around the world and through history would die (and have died) for.

[Professor Polonsky]

You can check if you're enrolled here. Fines haven't been handed out for a few years for failure to enrol, but as megan said, you probably should enrol.

[Chazef]

It's a civic responsibility, anyway, and if we don't take it seriously we're kind of disrespecting a democratic system that, despite its shitness in many ways, is something millions around the world and through history would die (and have died) for.

I don't think people died for compulsory voting but instead they died for everybody to have the ability to vote. Like I don't see what's disrespectful about not taking part in voting as long as you appreciate you have the ability to vote if you want to.

[meganrobyn]

I don't think people died for compulsory voting but instead they died for everybody to have the ability to vote. Like I don't see what's disrespectful about not taking part in voting as long as you appreciate you have the ability to vote if you want to.

Optional voting favours the wealthier, the older, the more powerful, the inner city, etc - it allows people to be denied a real contribution by means other than strict law. Anyway, that's a different debate.

[chasej]

Optional voting favours the wealthier, the older, the more powerful, the inner city, etc - it allows people to be denied a real contribution by means other than strict law. Anyway, that's a different debate.

Yep, and you don't really have to vote either. If you get your name ticked off the list you can chuck the ballot paper in the box (with or without a rude message) and no one would know - if one really have some sort of objection to voting (which is quite moronic considering most of the world doesn't even have the privilege).