Influx of young people, Indigenous Australians enrol to vote ahead of Voice referendum

A late influx of voters ahead of the Voice referendum has revealed the group of Aussies that could turn the tide for the Yes camp.

While the latest polling suggests Yes voters are facing an uphill battle in the upcoming referendum, new figures have revealed one group could turn the tide.

Australians will head to the polls on October 14 to decide whether an Indigenous Voice to parliament will be enshrined in the constitution.

The results from the latest Newspoll revealed support for the Yes campaign has fallen to 38 per cent, while the No vote is currently at 53 per cent.

However, a late influx of young and Indigenous voters could have an impact on polling day.

The Australian Electoral Commission has seen the largest enrolment in history ahead of the referendum, with a record 97.7 per cent of Aussies set to vote on the Voice.

It is our youngest generations who are leading the charge, with a whopping 91.4 per cent increase in 18 to 24-year-olds enrolling to vote.

This means more than 1.8 million young Aussies will be having their say in their first referendum.

The enrolment of First Nations people is also the highest it has ever been, sitting at 94.1 per cent. This is the first time in Australia’s history it has been above 90 per cent.

This is compared to an enrolment rate of 74.7 per cent in 2017, with the past six months alone accounting for approximately half of the increase.

There are approximately 60,000 more Indigenous Australians enrolled to vote than there were at the end of 2022.

Australian Electoral Commissioner Tom Rogers said the continuing upwards trajectory of enrolment in Australia is a result of years of hard work.

There has been a huge increase in young and Indigenous Australians enrolling to vote. Picture: William West/AFP

“If Australia’s enrolment is not the best in the world, it’d be incredibly close – my international counterparts are often flabbergasted at how we get enrolment so high,” he said.

“The referendum will have the best base for democratic participation of any federal electoral event in Australia’s history.”

Research from the Australia Institute found younger Australians were most likely to support the Voice, with 73 per cent of 18 to 29-year-olds surveyed saying they plan to vote Yes, 15 per cent to vote No and 12 per cent saying they didn’t know.

Support for the Yes campaign decreased as the age of those surveyed increased, with those in their fifties evenly split, while just 38 per cent of people over 60 said they would vote Yes.

Richard Denniss, executive director at the Australia Institute, encouraged young people to talk to their older relatives about the Voice referendum.

“Our research shows new Australians and young Australians are most optimistic about making Australia the best it can be, and most likely to support the Voice,” Dr Denniss said.

“Young Australians ought to talk to their parents and grandparents about why they so strongly support the Yes vote and their hopes for the future of our nation.”

Sarah Ramantanis, co-Chair of the Australian Youth Affairs Coalition (AYAC), said the Indigenous Voice to parliament referendum presents a unique opportunity for young people to engage with important matters that impact our First Nations people.

“The referendum provided an exciting opportunity for young Australians to engage with Indigenous affairs, given that many young people have not seen a referendum take place — with the last vote being held in 1999 and failing,” she said.

Ms Ramantanis said young people are “excited” to show their support for the Voice and have the opportunity for their opinions to be heard at a federal level.

“Young people value the importance in having a say in issues that affect their futures,” she said.

“Young people who are not of age to vote have shown interest and an eagerness in becoming decision makers.”