• The main reason that the compulsory voting reform was submitted was due to the low voter turnout at the 1922 federal election (59.38%) which decreased by 12.21% at the 1919 federal election (71.59%)
• The actual reform came from a Tasmania nationalist called Herbert Payne, who on 16th of July 1924 introduced the private member’s bill. The bill passed in parliament with barely any debate and on the 31st of July 1924 it received the Royal Assent as the Commonwealth Electoral Act of 1924
• The 1925 federal election was the first to be conducted under compulsory voting, which saw the turnout figure rise to 91.4%. The turnout increased to about 95% within a couple of elections and has stayed at about that level since.
• When compulsory voting
• The actual reform came from a Tasmania nationalist called Herbert Payne, who on 16th of July 1924 introduced the private member’s bill. The bill passed in parliament with barely any debate and on the 31st of July 1924 it received the Royal Assent as the Commonwealth Electoral Act of 1924
• The 1925 federal election was the first to be conducted under compulsory voting, which saw the turnout figure rise to 91.4%. The turnout increased to about 95% within a couple of elections and has stayed at about that level since.
• When compulsory voting