Youth

‘Rock Enrol’ and Help Shape Your Future

The Australian Electoral Commission (AEC) and triple j are helping to 'Rock Enrol', a campaign encouraging young people to have their voice heard by enrolling to vote.

Rock Enrol will be prominent at the Big Day Out concert series this month, and the enrolment message will be promoted via:

• endorsements from Australian bands at the event;
• roving Rock Enrol teams, who will be at the Gold Coast Big Day Out concert this weekend and explain the steps to enrolling. The AEC will email a simple 'how to' and links to enrolment forms to every individual providing contact details at the event;
• Rock Enrol signage will be present in the main Big Day Out arena; and
• Rock Enrol wristbands will be distributed to every patron aged 18 years and attending the event.

This pioneering initiative will reach a youth audience of over 180,000 across Australia, many of whom will be first time voters at the federal election later this year.

The AEC's Phil Diak says that too many young Australians who are eligible to vote are not on the electoral roll.

"If you have turned 18 years of age since the 2004 federal election, or were eligible to enrol before then and are still unenrolled, there is no better way to start the new year than to enrol. It is such a simple thing to do, and it will ensure you make your vote count in future state and federal elections," said Mr Diak.

"Currently around one in two 18 year olds are on the electoral roll and Rock Enrol is all about doing something to help get everybody enrolled and ready to vote in a federal election expected later this year."

To make some noise in future elections, Australians aged 17 can also enrol to vote now and be eligible to vote once they are 18 years of age.

Australia's hottest bands and artists are getting behind the initiative including John Butler Trio, Jet, Little Birdy and Sleepy Jackson. For further information, and to check out what these artists have to say about Rock Enrol, go to www.rockenrol.com.au where you can see videos featuring all of Rock Enrol's supporters.

Enrolment forms can also be found at www.rockenrol.com.au, or any post office or AEC office. Call 13 23 26 if you need help.