Research Tuesdays - Low voter turnout, high stakes

Voting is compulsory in Australia, but even still, not everyone votes. In fact, the 2022 federal election saw a voter turnout of less than 90%—the lowest rate since mandatory voting was introduced nearly a century prior.

In democracies like Australia’s, voter turnout isn’t just a number; it’s a fundamental safeguard for a functioning system. When fewer people vote, trust in leadership declines, marginalised communities are excluded, polarisation increases, and democracy backslides.

But participation can change that.

Researchers at the University of Adelaide are at the forefront of this effort, working to bolster political engagement. By combatting government unresponsiveness, promoting correct ballot marking, and mitigating systemic barriers to inclusion, they’re strengthening turnout—and protecting Australia from the crises now shaking democracies worldwide.

Join us in April, ahead of the next federal election, to learn why turnout matters and how to protect it.

The presenter

Professor Lisa Hill is Professor of Politics at the University of Adelaide. Her expertise lies in the intellectual history of the Western political tradition, democratic theory, and electoral studies. She is a Fellow of the Academy of the Social Sciences of Australia, Program Director at the Stretton Institute for Public Policy, SA Convenor of the Electoral Regulation Research Network, and Research Chair of anti-corruption watchdog the Centre for Public Integrity.