The Australian Electoral Commissioner has hailed a new pilot program aimed at encouraging voters from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds to participate in this week’s Federal Election.
The Commissioner, Tom Rogers described the program, Vote Talk, delivered by the Ethnic Communities Council of NSW as “fantastic”.
“The AEC provides a significant range of translated material that is of assistance to Australians, but we’ve invested in Vote Talk as it goes further by broadcasting more than the instructions of how to enroll or cast a formal vote,” Mr Rogers said.
“In a series of podcasts and radio interviews, community conversations explore why it is important to participate, how to enroll and vote, and opportunities for getting involved in delivering elections.”
He said facilitators from ethnically diverse communities had interviewed their neighbours, friends and leaders about all aspects of the electoral process.
“Vote Talk was developed in recognition of the need for targeted support for culturally and linguistically diverse communities, to ensure that all Australians know how to make their vote count,” Mr Rogers said.
“It is a pilot project, produced by the Ethnic Communities Council of NSW with support from the Australian Electoral Commission and NSW Electoral Commission.”
He said the project aimed to increase electoral awareness within culturally and linguistically diverse communities, where there was an historically high level of informal voting.
The Vote Talk website can be accessed at this PS News link.
