Calls to cut pre-poll voting amid claims it is eroding 'integrity' of elections
The New South Wales Nationals and the communications minister, Paul Fletcher, have joined growing calls for the length of pre-poll voting before federal elections to be shortened.
In a submission to the inquiry examining the 2019 election, Fletcher warned the record number of Australians voting in pre-poll was eroding the “integrity and quality” of the electoral process.
In the 2019 election 4.8 million Australians voted before election day on 18 May – 31.6% of the electorate, up from 22% in 2016 – sparking concern from party organisations, which struggled to staff pre-poll centres with volunteers to distribute how-to-vote cards.
