16 and 17 year olds could vote in federal elections
Senator Jordon Steele-John wants to lower the voting age from 18 to 16. He also wants people to be able to sign up to vote on election day. It would bring 16 and 17 year olds into federal votes.
Official name: Electoral Legislation Amendment (Lowering the Voting Age) Bill 2023
- The voting age for federal elections and referendums would drop from 18 to 16.
- 16 and 17 year olds would have to vote like everyone else, but they could not be fined for missing it.
- Young people could put their names down early, from age 14.
- Anyone allowed to vote who is not signed up could sign up on the day and vote.
- It is a private bill and has not been voted on.
Who it affects
- 16 and 17 year olds: They could vote in federal elections and referendums, and would be expected to.
- 14 and 15 year olds: They could sign up early so they are on the list when they turn 16.
- Adults who are not signed up or have moved: They could sign up or change their address at a polling place and vote on the day.
- Polling officials: They would take sign-up forms and check ID on election day.
Voting starts at 18
Right now you must be 18 to vote in a federal election or a referendum. A referendum is a national vote to change the Constitution. The Constitution is Australia's founding rule book.
Senator Jordon Steele-John brought this bill. A senator is a member of the Senate, the upper house of Parliament. His notes say it would let more Australians take part in elections. They say Parliament would then speak for a bigger share of citizens.
The bill changes two laws. One is the Commonwealth Electoral Act 1918, which runs federal elections. The other is the Referendum (Machinery Provisions) Act 1984, which runs referendums.
Voting at 16
Every age limit of 18 in the voting rules would become 16. The head of the electoral commission would have to put 16 and 17 year olds on the list of voters for a referendum. The electoral commission runs federal votes.
In Australia, everyone on the list must vote. The bill keeps it that way for everyone, including 16 and 17 year olds.
Normally if you do not vote, a local voting official can send you a fine. Under the bill, being 16 or 17 on voting day becomes a good reason for not voting. So the official would not need to fine you.
The notes say this means young people are expected to vote. But they will not risk a fine or a trip to court.
Signing up from 14
Today you can put your name down from age 16. This is called provisional enrolment. You go onto the list properly when you turn 18 and can vote.
The bill moves this two years earlier. You could sign up from 14. You would be able to vote from 16.
Say you are 15 and a half. You could fill in the form now. You would be ready to vote on your 16th birthday.
Enrolling on election day
The electoral roll is the list of people allowed to vote. Today the list is frozen for changes a few days after an election is called. If you miss that cut-off, you cannot get on in time.
Under the bill, a person who is allowed to vote but is not on the list could sign up at a polling place, where people go to vote, on election day. People listed at an old address could change it there too. This also works at early voting centres and for referendums.
They would cast a provisional vote. That is a vote kept aside until officials check the person can vote. The vote itself would count as their request to sign up.
The bill says a request made on voting day counts as if it came in before the freeze. So the person's vote can be counted.
To do this you would fill in a form and show ID. A driver's licence or an Australian passport would do. So would a signed form from another voter who knows you. The government could add other kinds of ID in detailed rules it writes without a new vote.
Waiting in the Senate
Senator Steele-John brought the bill into the Senate on 8 February 2023. It ran out of time when Parliament ended on 21 July 2025, before any vote. It was put back on the Senate's to-do list on 23 July 2025.
It is still before the Senate. It would need to pass the Senate and then the House of Representatives, the lower house, to become law.
Its journey through Parliament
| 08 Feb 2023 | Senate: Introduced and read a first time |
| 08 Feb 2023 | Senate: Second reading moved |
| 21 Jul 2025 | Senate: Lapsed at end of Parliament |
| 23 Jul 2025 | Senate: Restored to Notice Paper |