Human Rights Law Centre to capture barriers to voting in 2022 federal election

Ahead of tomorrow’s federal election, the Human Rights Law Centre has set up a register where people can record barriers they face in casting their vote. 

The right to vote is the most fundamental part of our democracy. Recent reports have exposed potential barriers to voting such as lengthy phone hold times and the closure of polling booths in regional and remote areas due to staff shortages. This may affect several areas with high Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander populations. 

Information collected through the register will be used to inform advocacy and potential legal action to ensure every Australian can cast their vote in future elections. Advocacy will include the Human Rights Law Centre’s submission to the Joint Standing Committee on Electoral Matters review into the election. 

Hugh de Kretser, Executive Director at the Human Rights Law Centre, said:  

“It is not even election day and already we have seen significant barriers stand in the way of people exercising their democratic right to vote.  

“It took advocacy and the threat of legal action to force the government to fix the regulations that would have prevented tens of thousands of Covid-affected people from voting via phone. Still, we have the threat of closing a number of polling places in regional Australia due to staff shortages. 

“It is vital that we record barriers to voting at this election so that there can be accountability and so we can ensure all Australians can vote in future elections. Our voting rights must be protected.”  

Click here for the Barriers to Voting Register 

Media contact:

Evan Schuurman, Media and Communications Manager, 0406 117 937, evan.schuurman@hrlc.org.au