Media Release – State’s First Compulsory Voting Council Elections Evaluation
Independent Member for Nelson Meg Webb today called for an evidence-based evaluation review on the impact of the State’s inaugural compulsory voting in local government elections.
“Now that these unprecedented local council elections have occurred, I am calling on Minister for Local Government Nic Street to undertake a post-election evaluation review of how well compulsory voting made the transition to the local government electoral sphere,” Ms Webb said.
Ms Webb said council polls saw Tasmanians being required to vote in those elections for the first time and the Tasmanian Electoral Commission (TEC) administering a compulsory postal voting process.
“Nobody disputes these significant reforms were introduced suddenly with minimal warning, and no consultation with the local government sector or the broader public.
“As Minister Street acknowledged during parliamentary debate, he would have preferred a different process had the election schedule allowed.
“If he didn’t have time to consult then, nothing is standing in his way of inviting public feedback now.”
Ms Webb stressed that her proposed review is not about undoing the compulsory voting reforms but evaluating the implementation process and outcomes, and participants’ experiences.
“The parliament was told that any modelling of implementation costs available prior the elections was ‘based on assumptions that are unknowable’.*
“Well, now that data should be knowable and available to provide an informed evaluation.
“Through a comprehensive evaluation review, we can:
-
- collate current evidence-based data and experiences to assess how well the transition occurred
- assess the impact on voting rates, informal votes and how well the postal ballot system held up
- document any other matters arising from both voters’ and administrators’ experiences
“An evaluation review is standard best practice in the public and corporate sectors when implementing a new initiative or policy. Reforms to our democratic electoral processes must have the same rigorous and accountable assessment.”
Ms Webb also explained her proposed evaluation review should be separate and additional to the standard logistics-focused election report provided by the Tasmanian Electoral Commission (TEC), as that process does not include public consultation and nor does it evaluate matters of policy or ramifications arising.
* See Legislative Council Hansard, Administrative Committee A, Budget Estimates Hearings, Thursday 9 June 2022.
Motion:
Ms Webb MLC to move that the Legislative Council notes:
- Notes that the Tasmanian Local Government elections held in October 2022 were the first local government elections held in this state in which voting was compulsory;
- Notes the government’s acknowledgement during debate on the Local Government Amendment (Elections) Bill 2022, that:
a) the introduction of compulsory voting for council elections had not been consulted with the local government sector or more broadly prior to the government’s announced intention to introduce legislative reforms to enact it;
b) the rushed parliamentary debate was not ideal, but necessary to enable the voting reforms to be implemented in time for the October local council elections;
c) the tight timeframe between the Act commencing on the 16th of June and the Tasmanian Electoral Commission (TEC) issue on the 3rd of September of the formal notice of election for the local government polls, by which the community had to adjust to the new compulsory voting requirements and any associated ramifications; and further
3. Requests the Minister for Local Government undertakes a comprehensive evaluation review of the implementation of compulsory voting in the 2022 local government elections and any matters arising, that:
a) Provides a public consultation process;
b) Engages with the local government sector, and the broader community;
c) Is separate and additional to the Tasmanian Electoral Commission’s standard procedural Report on Elections;
d) Is adequately resourced; and
e) The final report of which is to be tabled in both Houses of Parliament once the Minister has received and considered its findings.
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