ACT welcomes reforms to improve electoral integrity

ACT Justice Spokesperson Todd Stephenson is welcoming a suite of electoral reforms, including the removal of same day voting, prohibiting the provision of free food, drink or entertainment near voting places, and reinstating the total ban on prisoner voting.

“Democracy works best when voters are informed, engaged, and take the process seriously,” says Mr Stephenson.

"It's outrageous that someone completely disengaged and lazy can rock up to the voting booth, get registered there and then, and then vote to tax other people's money away. People who want to pull the levers of democracy ought to get organised, look at the policies, and register well in advance.

“Labour's move to let prisoners vote – so long as their sentence is shorter than three years – was unprincipled and opportunistic. Everyone understands that if you violate the rights of others, you surrender certain rights of your own. Reinstating the ban on prisoner voters makes the consequences for crime clearer.

“Freebies and gimmicks have no place near the ballot box. At the last election, we saw groups offering free hangi, coffee, ice cream, donuts, haircuts, and other goodies to voters. The changes to explicitly prohibit this will help uphold public confidence that elections are free from manipulation."