Understanding compulsory voting in Australia

In recent months, polarising elections in the UK and US have had us all paying a little more attention to voting and politics. But while many countries leave it up to each individual to decide whether they’ll vote, Australia is one of the only countries where voting is compulsory.  

So, what does that actually mean for our political landscape? In this article, we’ll take a closer look.  

A history of compulsory voting in Australia 

Australians spend a fair bit of time at the ballot box – federal, state and local elections all require our participation by law. But this wasn’t always the case. In fact, our first nine elections were voluntary.  

In 1911, our very own Alfred Deakin led the charge for compulsory voting in Australia. With Deakin’s assistance, Australia passed the law for compulsory voting in federal elections, but state elections remained voluntary. 

In 1924, Queensland Liberal MP Digby Denham introduced compulsory voting in his state’s elections, in the hope that it would help create a fairer political system. Other states soon followed suit. Victoria introduced compulsory voting in 1926, followed by New South Wales and Tasmania in 1928, Western Australia in 1936 and South Australia in 1942.   

Fast forward to 2024, and compulsory voting is still a defining feature of Australian democracy which ensures that all eligible citizens voices are heard, and that our political landscape remains inclusive and representative.  

Unpacking the pros and cons of compulsory voting in Australia

Unlike our friends in the UK and the US, where voting is more of a ‘choose your own adventure’ kind of deal, here in Australia, voting is non-negotiable. If you’re eligible, you show up – no exceptions, unless you want a fine for not voting.  

But what impact does compulsory voting in Australia have on how our government operates, and what are the pros and cons? We’ve asked Associate Professor Zim Nwokora from Deakin’s Faculty of Arts and Education for his insights.  

‘Compulsory voting is one of the standout features of Australian politics,’ says Nwokora. ‘Only a minority of countries impose penalties on citizens who don’t vote, and there are important arguments in favour of compulsory voting.’ 

Nwokora outlines three main pros of compulsory voting: 

1. Improved representation: Politicians can’t assume that people who feel marginalised in public life will stay home on election day. In Australia, everyone must turn up, which forces politicians to be more responsive to the needs of their communities.

2. Encouraged participation: Compulsory voting doesn’t just get people to the polls; it also nudges them to get involved in civic life. While voting alone doesn’t guarantee political engagement, it may encourage citizens to learn about politics and try other modes of engagement and participation.

3. Reduced polarisation: With compulsory voting, moderates have to vote, which dilutes the influence of more extreme voices. In other words, the ‘silent majority’ gets heard, leading to a more balanced political landscape.

While compulsory voting has clear benefits, Nwokora highlights one significant con:  

‘I think the fact of ‘compulsion’ itself is not democratically attractive. After all, democracies are meant to prize individual freedom including the freedom to choose not to participate in politics. This is a negative which must be balanced against the positives of compulsory voting.’ 

As previously mentioned, compulsory voting in Australia isn’t a new thing, it’s been part of our world for quite a long time, only the first 9 elections we had were voluntary.  

What’s the age cutoff for compulsory voting in Australia?

In Australia, every citizen aged 18 and over must vote. There’s no upper age limit, meaning that senior citizens are also required to vote, and those who are elderly or with limited mobility are able to request a postal vote to ensure their voices are still heard.  

There are fines for those who don’t vote in elections, and if you miss a federal election, you’d be looking at a $20 fine. If you miss a state or local election, you’d have to fork up $55. If these fines are ignored you may lose your driver’s license or be liable for further fines.  

What happens to an informal vote in Australia?

Before we look at the result of an informal vote, it’s important to understand what an informal vote is. Whether it’s by mistake or intentional, if the ballot is incomplete or not filled out correctly, it’s considered an informal vote.  

Informal votes will not be counted towards the final tally. While informal votes are not overly common in Australia (around 5% of total votes), they can still impact the final results.

Voting in the US

When we compare ourselves to our mates over in the US, it’s interesting to consider what compulsory voting would look like in their political context.  In the 2024 election, around 140 million Americans voted, but the country has a population of 340 million. This means that only about 1 in 3 citizens voted – quite a low turnout compared to Australia and its compulsory system.  

The impact of this was particularly evident with Trump winning with one of the smallest popular vote margins in US history. Imagine if voting were compulsory in the US – could the result have been different? Would Kamala Harris have taken the win instead?  

‘The factors leading to polarization in the United States are complex. Polarisation has gone up and down while voting has been voluntary,’ says Nwokora. ‘But if the US suddenly shifted to compulsory voting (and everything else stayed the same), would polarisation decrease?’  

‘Possibly, if the most energised participants – for example, those most likely to vote under a voluntary voting system – also hold more extreme opinions. However, there are steps that could be taken short of introducing compulsory voting that would have the effect of increasing turnout and potentially reducing polarisation. For example, in many states there are legal and practical obstacles to voter registration which could be removed.’ 

A final word on compulsory voting in Australia  

Australians have shown their commitment to democracy time and time again by showing up to the ballot box for every election. But this raises an intriguing question: what would our level of political engagement look like if voting were still voluntary? Would we still see similar levels of engagement, or would voter turnout be lower, like it is in the US?  

As we’ve seen, compulsory voting has a unique impact on the relationship Australian’s have with their democracy. But, as Nwokora noted, it also prompts further reflection on the balance between obligation and personal choice in the voting process.