SYDNEY, Australia: A record number of Australians have signed up to vote next month in a referendum on recognizing the country’s indigenous people in the constitution, according to the Electoral Commission.
Australians will be asked in a referendum on October 14 whether they agree to amend the constitution to enshrine an Aboriginal advisory body called the “Voice of Parliament” which can provide advice on matters affecting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.
The proposal is struggling to gain majority support as recent polls have shown voters will reject it.
A record 97.7% of eligible Australians registered to vote in the referendum, the Australian Electoral Commission (AEC) said in a statement on Thursday.
More than 8.4 million people, 47% of the list, were not registered when the last referendum was held in 1999, the commission added.
“The proportion of young people has also increased to 91.4%, meaning around 1.8 million people aged 18-24 are ready to vote and have their say in their first referendum,” Australian Electoral Commissioner Tom Rogers said.
“In terms of First Nations enrollment, it’s 94.1% and it’s the highest it’s ever been,” he added.
To change the constitution, a referendum backed by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese’s Labor government would require a national majority in favor and a majority in at least four of Australia’s six states.
Indigenous Australians, who make up 3.8% of the population, face disadvantage including discrimination, poor health and education outcomes and high incarceration rates.
Supporters of the referendum say a “Vote for Parliament” will bring progress to the Indigenous community, while opponents say it would hand too much power to the body. Some Indigenous Australians want stronger measures, including a treaty with the government.
In a statement on Friday, Mr Albanese said Indigenous Australians had been advocating for constitutional recognition through the Voice for years as a practical way to make real progress on issues such as health and education.
“Voice will mean we listen to people about the issues that affect them, so we get better results,” he said.
“Giving local people a say also means we save money because we make sure the funding actually gets to people on the ground and makes a difference.”
