Australians will go to the polls tomorrow to elect a new government.
But the country’s 18 million qualified voters will not only pick their preferred candidates—they will also fulfill their legal obligations.
Voting for all Australian citizens over the age of 18 has been mandatory since 1924, with a fine of $20 ($13; £10).
Today, while many countries are working to get people into the ballot box, Australia has one of the highest voters in the world.
According to official statistics, the country's last federal election held in 2022 came from about 90% of eligible voters.
For comparison, voter turnout for the 2024 British election was 60%, compared with 64% for the U.S. presidential election that year.
Mandatory voting has extensive support in Australia and is seen as a way to capture most social representation, not just the majority of those who choose to vote.
Here’s what you need to know about mandatory Australian voting.
How does Australia make people vote?
You can save you from voting for valid reasons, but Australian authorities have put in place various policies to reduce voting barriers. First, the election is held on Saturday, when more workers will be free to go to the polling station.
Employers are also required to give workers paid leave on Election Day to ensure people have enough time to vote.
The extra motivation for people to perform their democratic responsibilities is the “democratic sausage”, which is grilled near the polling station. These snacks have become an icon of the Australian election, often making it the largest fundraiser of the year for local schools and community groups.
What are the benefits of forced voting?
When the Election Act was amended in 1924, voting became mandatory for federal elections, with a rapid and distinctive impact: voter turnout soared from 60% in the 1922 general election to more than 91% in 1925.
A major argument for mandatory voting in Australia is the legality of its award to the election champion.
The Australian Election Commission's guide published reads: “Persisters of mandatory voting believe that the parliament elected by mandatory voting more accurately reflects the will of voters.”
“Compulsory voting is announced to encourage policies that together address the full scope of electoral values,” the committee said. On the other hand, it noted that compulsory voting also risked “pork barrels” – using government funds to projects that will court voters – parties focused on winning voters on profit margins.
Despite how mandatory voting affects the policy issues advocated by political parties, many believe it offsets political polarization by attracting more moderate voters.
Instead, places without a mandatory vote may attract more extreme voter bases.
“This means they can explore more extreme political issues,” historian Judith Brett told the BBC during the last Australian federal election in 2022. “Given that everyone has to vote, somehow push politics to the center.”
Ms Brett said mandatory voting also helps ensure marginalized people are better represented. Studies show that fewer wealthier people are also less likely to vote.
“That means that when politicians tout the vote, they know that all groups, including the poor, will vote,” Brett said. “And I think that makes for a more equal public policy.”
What do Australians think?
The mandatory voting is quite undisputed in Australia.
National surveys since 1967 show that public support for the law has always hovered around 70%.
In the past few decades, there have been individuals who are running to end mandatory votes, believing that citizens should have the right to choose whether to vote – but such appeals are hardly attracted to the wider population.
In 2022, 77% of Australians said they would still vote if they were voluntary.
