This report highlights significant opportunities to better engage key sections of the population in electoral matters and to improve the quality of civics education. The report follows successive surveys of young people which have shown that Australians between the ages of 15 and 35 typically have limited knowledge of Australia’s political history and political system...

The committee looks at the conduct of each federal election, examining pre-poll and polling day arrangements. This report goes further than usual, examining a range of potential changes to the voting system, including voluntary voting, four-year terms and early closure of the roll. Few proposals attracted cross-party support.