AEC reverses voting rule after Scott Morrison says politicians shouldn’t get involved

Scott Morrison has weighed in on an electoral law anomaly that could have excluded tens of thousands of people from the federal poll.

Scott Morrison has confirmed a last-minute change to Australia’s electoral laws that could have otherwise prevented more than 100,000 people from voting.

The Australian Electoral Commission reversed a rule that might have seen some people with Covid-19 unable to vote if they hadn’t already enrolled for a postal vote before the deadline.

This would have left anyone who tested positive to Covid-19 between Saturday and 6pm Tuesday ineligible to vote over the phone and unable to attend a polling booth in person due to isolation requirements.

Electoral Commissioner Tom Rogers on Friday morning signed a brief to the government recommending that eligibility for the telephone voting service for people who have tested positive to Covid-19 be expanded, the AEC tweeted.

People who tested positive to Covid-19 after 6pm on Tuesday will also be allowed to vote over the phone.

Electoral Commissioner Tom Rogers has this morning signed a brief to Government recommending that eligibility for the telephone voting service for people who have tested positive to COVID-19 be expanded.

More updates: 🧵 pic.twitter.com/EA5seYG2em

— AEC ✏️ (@AusElectoralCom) May 19, 2022

Public Service Minister Ben Morton earlier said the Coalition wanted every Australia who is enrolled and entitled to vote, to be able to exercise their democratic right.

“While the legislation determining these matters was passed with bipartisan support, I have asked the Commissioner of the AEC to provide further advice on how the government can support the AEC to address these issues,” he said.

“We will act on that advice as soon as it is received.”

The Prime Minister told Perth’s 6PR radio the changes had been made with Labor’s support.

Earlier, Mr Morrison said he wanted “everybody to vote” but it was not up to politicians to get “involved” in electoral laws.

Mr Morrison was asked about the matter on Friday morning as he took part in a 10-interview media blitz in a list ditch effort to convince any undecided voters to back him at the federal election.

He said the implementation of voting laws was an “independent process”.

“But what is important is that politicians don’t get involved in this, it’s an independent process,” he told Sunrise.

“I think we should be careful given all sides of politics … agreed to what these rules were and what the law would be.”

Scott Morrison says Australia’s voting laws should be protected as independent. Picture: Jason Edwards

He said the federal government would support any recommendations made by the Australian Electoral Commissioner as the “independent umpire” in the election.

Mr Morrison was asked about the issue again on ABC News Breakfast later in his election eve interview marathon.

“It’s not something for politicians to interfere in,” he reiterated.

“We have an independent process, but we are ensuring the commissioner has every support that he can conduct the election in the best possible way.”

Mr Morrison was asked about a new Ipsos poll conducted for the Australian Financial Review that showed the gap between Labor and the Coalition had narrowed in term of their primary votes.

But Labor leader Anthony Albanese remains in front of Mr Morrison as preferred prime minister, according to the poll.

Mr Morrison was asked on the ABC: “Is your biggest fear that while voters in some parts of the country might want to re-elect the Coalition, they simply cannot stomach another three years of you?”

Mr Morrison said it didn’t matter that “not everyone likes me”.

“What I’ve done over the last three years is show the leadership necessary to get Australia through the worst financial, economic and health crisis we’ve seen in 100 years,” he said.

“Polls don’t determine elections, and neither do politicians and neither do journalists.”

Speaking to Sydney’s 2GB Radio earlier, Mr Morrison said “of course” he could win on Saturday.