Number of teens on Lingiari voter roll almost doubles for Voice referendum

The number of 18 and 19-year-olds on one seat’s electoral roll has almost doubled since last year’s election. Read why young people are eager to have their say on the Voice.

There will be almost twice as many eligible teenagers in the Territory’s bush seat voting in the Voice referendum compared to last year’s federal election, new data reveals.

There are 1942 enrolled voters in the 18 to 19-year-old age cohort for the seat of Lingiari, an increase of 86 per cent from last year’s federal election in May.

It marks a significant jump compared to the seat’s other age cohorts, which the Australian Electoral Commission categorises in five year groupings.

While this is to be expected with the 18-19 grouping spanning just two years, the figures have been welcomed by Lingiari MP Marion Scrymgour after the electorate recorded the lowest voter turnout in the country last year.

Lingiari, which is held by Labor MP Marion Scrymgour, had the lowest voter turnout in Australia at the 2022 federal election at 66 per cent. Picture: Pema Tamang Pakhrin

The 20 to 24-year-old age cohort is up 33.5 per cent, while the next highest cohort is 25 to 29-year-olds with an 8.4 per cent increase.

The number of enrolled voters across most other age cohorts has only grown by a few percentage points.

Lingiari spans all of the Territory except for a geographically small electorate, Solomon, which covers Darwin and most of Palmerston.

With almost one-third of the Territory’s population being Indigenous – and that figure likely to be higher in Lingiari – it stands to have the most to gain or lose from the outcome of the referendum.

Anna Lindsay shared her thoughts on young people voting in the Voice referendum. Picture: Annabel Bowles

Yes campaigner Anna Lindsay said while social media had allowed misinformation to spread, she believed it had “totally increased” young peoples’ interest in the political debate.

“Although we talk about how difficult referendums are in many ways to be successful, the beauty of them is that the people get to decide,” the 26-year-old said.

“It’s not politicians, it’s not government, it’s not people who are over 30 and 40 – it’s all of us.

“The young people that I’ve engaged with have been really interested, even if they are confused or uncertain, they have had a genuine desire to know what it’s about.”

Noel Land shared his thoughts on young people voting in the Voice referendum. Picture: Annabel Bowles

The AEC data also shows a 10 per cent increase in the number of Lingiari voters aged 70 and above, with almost 600 people in this age cohort enrolling to vote for the first time.

No campaigner Noel Land said it was important all people cast their vote, no matter their age.

“We live in a democracy and everybody’s got to have their say,” the 73-year-old said.

He said the referendum was not “as political as perhaps it would be in a normal election cycle”, meaning people who have never voted before may feel more inclined to enrol and take part.

Lingiari MP Marion Scrymgour said it was great to see young people participate in the democratic process.

“The idea to give chronically disadvantaged First Nations people a stronger Voice has obviously engaged them,” she said.

“The response of youth has been an inspiration for me – to see young people putting hope, inclusion and optimism above fear and negativity.”

Lingiari had the lowest voter turnout of the country in the 2022 federal election at about 66 per cent.