ONE hundred years ago today George Pearce of Western Australia rose in the Senate to deliver the second reading speech on the Commonwealth Electoral Bill 1911. Outside parliament, which sat in Melbourne in those days, it was a typical spring day with light rain forecast; inside, the senators were about to deal with legislation that would change forever how Australians participate in the electoral system.

The most dramatic measure in the bill was the introduction of compulsory enrolment for all adults who were eligible to vote. Like so many changes to our electoral laws, it was motivated by party self interest and was bitterly contested, not finally becoming law until the following year…