Comments on the Electoral (Miscellaneous) Amendment Bill 2012

Around Australia there are several aspects of the electoral system which are currently under review. The main areas are how the electoral system can best include all eligible voters at election times (this debate is about direct enrolment, disability access, online voting and postal voting); how elections can be conducted in a fair way (this debate includes regulation of electoral advertising and political comment at election times) and how the election can be regulated so that parties have a fair chance of competing (this debate is currently about public funding of campaigns and legislating for disclosure of contributions and expenditures). The Electoral (Miscellaneous) Amendment Bill 2012 proposes change in several of these areas. It addresses the inclusiveness of the electoral process with two proposals: one, to allow the Commonwealth's new direct enrolment and update system to flow on to update South Australia's roll; and two, to change the arrangements for postal voting, removing parties from the postal vote application process. The Bill addresses election conduct by proposing to remove a requirement that political comment on the internet carry an authorisation statement. It also proposes to regulate How To Vote cards by introducing a registration system and requiring clearer authorisation statements. It leaves for another time the debate about campaign funding and disclosure. Finally it proposes changing several election management procedures and introducing a term limit on the Deputy Commissioner's appointment.