What is the Commonwealth Electoral Act 1962?

Commonwealth Electoral Act 1962. An Act to give to Aboriginal Natives of Australia the right to Enrol and to Vote as Electors of the Commonwealth, and to provide for certain Offences in relation thereto.

Considering this, what was the 1962 right to vote?

The Commonwealth Electoral Act 1962 received assent on 21 May 1962. It granted all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people the option to enrol and vote in federal elections. Enrolment was not compulsory for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, unlike other Australians.

Also Know, what is the Electoral Act? The Electoral Act 1856 was an Act of the Victorian Legislative Council which provided for the election of members of the first Parliament of Victoria later that year. Victoria was the fourth jurisdiction in the world to enacted a law for a secret ballot. France adopted a secret ballot law in 1795.

Also to know, what was the significance of the 1962 right to vote federally?

In 1962, the Menzies Government amended the Commonwealth Electoral Act to give Indigenous people the right to enrol and vote in Commonwealth elections irrespective of their voting rights at the state level. If they were enrolled, it was compulsory for them to vote as per non-Indigenous citizens.

When did indigenous people get the vote?

Voting rights for Aboriginal people. Some Aboriginal people were granted voting rights in the 1850s, but it wasn't until 1962 that all Aboriginal Australians were allowed to vote.

23 Related Question Answers Found

Who was allowed to vote in Australia in the 1800s?

The Act declared that all British subjects over the age of 21 years who had been living in Australia for at least 6 months were entitled to a vote, whether male or female, and whether married or single.

What year could Blacks vote?

1965: Protection of voter registration and voting for racial minorities, later applied to language minorities, is established by the Voting Rights Act of 1965.

How many indigenous people are in parliament?

Eight Indigenous Australian people have been members of the Parliament of Australia (the Federal Parliament), six in the Senate and two in the House of Representatives.

When did aboriginals start?

17 December, 1965

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples had the right to vote in some states before 1901, but it was taken away or limited when the constitution was enacted. In 1962, Indigenous people gain the right to vote in federal elections.

Can First Nations vote in Canada?

For the First Nations, the Government of Canada created the band system under the Indian Act, which allowed First Nations people to vote in band elections but they could not vote in federal elections before 1960 unless they renounced their status as Registered Indians (a process referred to as enfranchisement).

Why was the Commonwealth Franchise Act passed?

The Act established universal suffrage for federal elections for those who are British subjects over 21 years of age who have lived in Australia for six months, with some qualifications. It granted Australian women the right to vote at a national level, and to stand for election to the Parliament.

Can you go to jail for not voting in Australia?

Electors who fail to vote at a State election and do not provide a valid and sufficient reason for such failure will be fined. The penalty for first time offenders is $20 and this increases to $50 if you have previously paid a penalty or been convicted of this offence.

What is the aboriginal day of mourning?

The Day of Mourning was a protest held by Aboriginal Australians on 26 January 1938, the 150th anniversary of the British colonisation of Australia. The protest became a tradition, and annual Days of Mourning have been held to this day.

Who is excluded from voting in Australia?

The following Australians are not entitled to enrol and vote: people who are incapable of understanding the nature and significance of enrolment and voting. prisoners serving a sentence of five years or longer. people who have been convicted of treason and not pardoned.

What is electoral Constitution?

The Twelfth Amendment (Amendment XII) to the United States Constitution provides the procedure for electing the President and Vice President. It replaced the procedure provided in Article II, Section 1, Clause 3, by which the Electoral College originally functioned.

When did it become illegal to kill an aboriginal?

In 1824, settlers were authorised to shoot Aborigines. In 1828, the Governor declared martial law.

What was the question in the 1967 referendum?

Question. DO YOU APPROVE the proposed law for the alteration of the Constitution entitled— 'An Act to alter the Constitution so as to omit certain words relating to the People of the Aboriginal Race in any State and so that Aboriginals are to be counted in reckoning the Population'?

How did the Aboriginal arrive in Australia?

Aboriginal origins

Humans are thought to have migrated to Northern Australia from Asia using primitive boats. A current theory holds that those early migrants themselves came out of Africa about 70,000 years ago, which would make Aboriginal Australians the oldest population of humans living outside Africa.

Who started the 1967 referendum?

In 1967, in response to a Federal Council for the Advancement of Aborigines and Torres Strait Islanders (FCAATSI) petition calling for a referendum on sections 51 and 127 of the Constitution, the Holt Coalition Government introduced the Constitution Alteration (Aboriginals) Bill 1967 to the Parliament.

What changed after the 1967 referendum?

What changed after the 1967 referendum? The referendum opened a door; it allowed the Australian Government to change the Constitution so it could be involved in the affairs of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

How did the 1967 referendum affect Australia?

What was the impact? Many Indigenous people regard the 1967 Referendum as a symbolic turning point, revealing a widespread desire for Indigenous equality in Australia. It enabled the federal government to pass the (Northern Territory) Land Rights Act, which has benefited many Indigenous Australians.

Does the Australian Constitution Recognise Aboriginal?

Currently, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians are still not recognised or specifically mentioned in the Australian Constitution, however, the Constitution still contains references (in Sections 25 and 51) that allow the Commonwealth or State governments to discriminate against people on the basis of race