Examkin

Question

Difficulty: MediumVoting in Referendums

If a referendum is called to propose a change to the Australian Constitution, what is the legal obligation for Australian citizens aged 18 and over who are on the electoral roll?

  1. They are required by law to vote in the referendum.Answer
  2. B
    Voting is optional because referendums are different from general elections.
  3. C
    Only citizens who have lived in Australia for more than 10 years are required to vote.

Answer

They are required by law to vote in the referendum.
The correct answer is that enrolled citizens are required by law to vote. In Australia, the democratic system relies on compulsory participation. This means that for every federal election and every referendum (a vote to change the Constitution), all citizens aged 18 or over who are on the electoral roll must cast a vote.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify the type of vote being held.
The vote is a referendum, which is a formal vote to change the Australian Constitution.
The nature of the vote determines the legal requirements for participation.
2
Determine the legal status of voting for enrolled citizens in Australia.
In Australia, voting in both elections and referendums is compulsory for citizens on the electoral roll.
Australian law mandates participation in the democratic process for all eligible, enrolled citizens.

Key Concept

Compulsory Voting in Referendums

Hints

1
Think about whether voting in a normal Australian federal election is optional or compulsory.
2
Referendums are the way Australians change their Constitution. The law treats these votes with the same importance as general elections.

Practice More

Review the 'Double Majority' rule to understand how these compulsory votes are counted to change the Constitution.
Estimated Time:45s
Rate this question

Topics

Voting in Referendums

More questions from this topic