Reforms to lower the voting age to 16 are gaining momentum internationally and raise important questions about democratic participation, equity, human rights and the nature of enfranchisement. This policy brief outlines the context, international cases, arguments for and against, and the Australian context. The Australian context of compulsory voting adds another dimension to the issue.

This report reveals the depth and breadth of the challenges facing democratic governance worldwide. The four pillars of democracy – Representation, Rights, Rule of Law and Participation – are under strain. The report finds more than half of all countries assessed have declined in at least one key aspect of democratic performance over the past...

A report from an inquiry into proposals to increase voter engagement, participation and confidence in New South Wales. It presents three findings and provides 22 recommendations. The recommendations cover a variety of matters ranging from civics education, voting information, technology-assisted voting and electoral funding laws.

This submission provides results from an in-depth study on political participation, literacy, and media engagement among Chinese and South Asian communities in Australia. The research suggests several recommendations to improve civics education and political participation among culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) communities.

Considerable concerns exist over so-called 'group voting tickets' used in elections for Victoria’s Legislative Council. This paper discusses Victoria's experiences, focusing on ensuring that the state's Upper House retains the public's confidence in its role and representativeness.