AAP
A record number of Australians are enrolled to vote ahead of the upcoming referendum on the Indigenous voice to parliament.
The estimated national enrolment rate is 97.5 per cent, up from 97.1 per cent at the end of 2022, the Australian Electoral Commission says.
This means the 2023 referendum will have the best baseline for democratic participation than any federal electoral event in Australian history.
Enrolments for Indigenous Australians and Northern Territorians are above 90 per cent for the first time ever.
There are 60,000 more Indigenous Australians enrolled than there were at the end of last year.
Young Australians between 18- and 24 years old have also reached their highest enrolment rate – at 90.3 per cent, up from 87.6 per cent six months ago.
Commissioner Tom Rogers said Australians should be proud of the results which were nothing short of a “modern democratic miracle”.
“If Australia’s enrolment is not the best in the world, it’d be incredibly close – my international counterparts are often flabbergasted at how we get enrolment so high,” he said.
“Enrolment continues to go up nationally, every state and territory’s enrolment rates are at – or near – record highs, traditionally lower enrolled sections of society have their enrolment rates keep going up.
“It’s a phenomenal success story.”
The referendum on whether to enshrine an Indigenous voice into the constitution is due to take place in the final quarter of this year.
