Planes, helicopters, 4WDs and boats used to reach remote communities for Voice pre-polling
Everything from boats to planes are being called in to help officials overcome one major challenge to communities in the state’s most remote reaches.
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Planes, helicopters, 4WDs and boats are being used to reach remote communities with pre-polling officials visiting some areas with populations as low as 20 people.
The Australian Electoral Commission (AEC) says every vote will count in the upcoming federal referendum on the Voice with enrolment in remote communities also at its highest level ever.
A spokesperson from the AEC said there was a lot of ground to cover with less than two weeks until referendum day on October 14.
“Indigenous enrolment is the highest it’s ever been with a national estimated enrolment rate of 94.1%,” a spokesperson said.
“We are using small planes, helicopters, 4WDs and occasionally boats in order to cover the millions of square kilometres that our remote voting teams cover.
“Where possible, the AEC employs members of local communities to perform a role in assisting community members to understand, and be comfortable with, the voting process.”
In many communities across Australia, English is either a second, third or fourth language, meaning interpreters are required to help people understand what the referendum on the Voice is.
One of those interpreters is Anangu Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara (APY) man, Dominic Barry, who has been working with the AEC to deliver information on the Voice to people living in the APY Lands.
“I think the importance of providing people from remote Aboriginal communities that may speak a different language with information about referendums in their own language can’t be overstated,” he said.
“In Australia, Indigenous languages play a crucial role for a lot of people in preserving culture and identity, and ensuring access to vital information in these languages becomes an act of empowerment.
“Democracy thrives when it’s inclusive and ensures that all people can participate in that decision making process.”
Meanwhile, voting has already begun across the APY Lands with mobile voting centres travelling from community to community.
Locals say there has been a strong engagement from community members who have been working with each other to help deliver balanced information about the referendum.
Yankunytjatjara and Kokatha man, Tjangu Thomas has been campaigning for a Yes vote throughout the APY Lands and says pre-polling in communities has been well received so far.
“There’s a couple people you have a yarn to who are confused but when you sit down and have a yarn with them and explain it, they seem really happy and positive about it,” he said.
“I think a majority of people are a Yes for the referendum when you’re talking to them, but some people are just unsure and don’t know enough about it.
“They want to sit down and talk about it so they can make a more informed decision.”
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