No Australia doesnt have compulsory voting...Aussie is like New Zealand...you must register to vote but you don’t have to vote...
I registered and voted one time before I immigrated to America...but I didn’t have to vote...I just chose to...
I got to vote because the law changed and us 20 year olds could suddenly vote..the age went down one year...someone wanted us to be grateful and elect them to office...
it didn’t work though...most of us were unprepared to decide and just voted the way our parents did...much to the chagrin of the authors of the new law...
the law changed one month, we voted the next I think...it was sprung on us...
anyhoo there was a lot of sudden unexpected confusion and craziness...
It would be like Congress voting in early October for a new secret bill to put the age down to 17 and Obama signing it into law and everyone voting together on Nov 8 the new baby voters included...and few in the country knowing about it till it happened..but the newbies don’t vote Democrat...
:)
It IS compulsory to vote see the Australian Electoral Commission form if you don’t below
http://www.aec.gov.au/About_AEC/cea-notices/files/2016/approved-non-voter-notices.pdf
I cant post docs or pics so maybe somebody can help
Cheers
It is indeed compulsory to vote in Australia; been that way since 1924. The fine is $26 if you do not vote.
New Zealand has never had compulsory voting. The two countries are not alike in this respect.