With the referendum on next Saturday, we’re opening up this thread for questions about the referendum itself. As I read in an ABC article this morning no-one under 42 has ever been able to vote in a referendum and the last one was ~24 years ago.
This thread is not a place to discuss the alteration itself - that is handled by the older Voice to Parliament Referendum Megathread which will remain open until after October 14. There you will find a wide range of opinions, and do remember these are opinions and not facts.
Anyway this thread is here for anyone that’s got questions about the referendum. And by extension anyone with answers
Hey, just a little nudge, if you’re keen to chat about the Voice to Parliament, we’ve got this corker of a megathread where we can all have a good chinwag in one spot. But if you’re not up for that, no worries, it’s business as usual. Gotta keep things fair dinkum!
Thanks Dale, already covered it
Since the referendum is now over this thread will be unpinned and locked. Please make a post if you have any questions regarding the referendum.
I’d better chuck this in here as well…
What are we voting on?
This is the proposed alteration to the constitution. Copied from Referendum question and constitutional amendment (voice.gov.au)
Chapter IX Recognition of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples
129 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice
In recognition of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as the First Peoples of Australia:
i. there shall be a body, to be called the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice;
ii. the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice may make representations to the Parliament and the Executive Government of the Commonwealth on matters relating to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples;
iii. the Parliament shall, subject to this Constitution, have power to make laws with respect to matters relating to the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice, including its composition, functions, powers and procedures.”
The ballot paper will ask the following question:
A Proposed Law: to alter the Constitution to recognise the First Peoples of Australia by establishing an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice.
Do you approve this proposed alteration?
There will be a box, write “Yes” in the box if you approve of the proposed alteration or “No” if you do not. Do not write a tick or a cross as that is not what it says to do and it may not count.
Remember use the Megathread if you wish to discuss the alteration itself.
The closest polling place to me isn’t doing snags or sweets according to the democracy sausage website. What an outrage! I have to travel further to get a decent feed! Anyway, onions on top of or under the snag?
On top because I like it when the sausage sticks to the bread.
Ooo will there be how to vote
cuntsbeautiful people hanging about at the polls?deleted by creator
What a sad day it is 😂
Will there be a similar number of voting booths open compared to a federal election? A similar number of people are voting, but I’d also expect we will get through way quicker since it is a binary choice this time.
You can check the aec site to see what is opening near you. My local will open shortly for early voting, but a few nearby opened on the second.
That was very useful, thanks. Seems there will be a similar selection to last year’s federal election. I also didn’t know early voting was this accessible, might just do that if I have the time.
Yep, there’s eligibility requirements, but in practice that means just lie about a reasonable one for you.
I’ll be away from my usual residence.
I can just roll up to any polling booth and do an absentee ballot right?
Yep, the caveat is if you’re voting interstate you need to find an interstate voting centre. If you go through the aec site and hit I don’t live in X state it will show you the interstate centres.
Want to know what the ballot paper will look like? Check it out here: https://aec.gov.au/referendums/vote/completing-the-ballot-paper.html
The text under A Proposed Law will read:
To alter the Constitution to recognise the First Peoples of Australia by establishing an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice. Do you approve this proposed alteration?I did my postal vote the other day and that was all that they give you, so just remember that you’re expected to do all of your research and decision making before you get to the ballot box.
