Is the future of democracy safe in the hands of the under-30s?

Jane Smith

“In a stable, prosperous country such as Australia, it can be easy to take democracy for granted. Democracy has become a somewhat dirty word, especially with the ‘Millennial Generation’ (born 1982–2003).

In 1999, the Australian Electoral Commission (AEC) disbanded its door-knocking function to check voters were correctly entered on the electoral roll. By 2010, about 1.5 million adults were not registered to vote, 70% of them under 25. Changes to the Commonwealth Electoral Act 2012 slowed this trend, particularly as online enrolment is now allowed. However, of the 1.2 million people currently not registered to vote, the AEC estimates 46% are aged between 18 and 29 …”