1. The right to vote: So what’s happening for people who experience homelessness? VCOSS CONGRESS 2007 Beyond Citizenship: Visions for Rights and Real Engagement 1 – 2 August 2007 Violet Kolar

2. Overview  Active citizenship - voting  Findings from Hanover’s voting census - Victorian State Election 25 Nov 2006  Implications VCOSS CONGRESS 1 – 2 AUGUST 2007

3. Hanover  Established 1964 in Melbourne  Individuals & families experiencing, or at risk of, homelessness  Housing; Support; Research VCOSS CONGRESS 1 – 2 AUGUST 2007

4. Key questions  How many clients were eligible to vote?  How many clients actually did vote?  What were the barriers for clients who did not vote? VCOSS CONGRESS 1 – 2 AUGUST 2007

5. Target group:  Every adult who was a client at any one of Hanover’s services over a 3 week period following the Victorian State Election  Crisis accommodation; transitional housing; other support  Estimated 400 clients  230 clients participated (58% response rate) VCOSS CONGRESS 1 – 2 AUGUST 2007

6. Q1. How many clients eligible to vote?

7. VCOSS CONGRESS 1 – 2 AUGUST 2007 Eligible clients and service type (N=208)

8. VCOSS CONGRESS 1 – 2 AUGUST 2007 Eligible women and men (N=208)

9. VCOSS CONGRESS 1 – 2 AUGUST 2007 Eligible clients with dependent children (N=208)

10. VCOSS CONGRESS 1 – 2 AUGUST 2007 Q2. What % of eligible clients did vote?

11. VCOSS CONGRESS 1 – 2 AUGUST 2007 Eligible clients who voted by Service Type

12. VCOSS CONGRESS 1 – 2 AUGUST 2007 Eligible clients who voted by Gender

13. VCOSS CONGRESS 1 – 2 AUGUST 2007 Eligible clients who did not vote by Family Status

14. List of possible barriers to voting:  Not enrolled to vote  Too many other issues to deal with  Not interested in election  Not aware election was on  Other (please specify) VCOSS CONGRESS 1 – 2 AUGUST 2007

15. Q3. What were the barriers to voting?

16. Key Issues  Majority of eligible clients did not vote in the Nov 2006 Victorian State Election  Higher proportion who did not vote were in crisis accommodation compared with transitional or other support  Men, overall, not engaged in political process  Barriers to voting:  Enrolment – related to process  Remaining issues – related to civic engagement VCOSS CONGRESS 1 – 2 AUGUST 2007

17. So what?  Participation in the political process denied  Disenfranchisement – important disadvantage  Electoral roll changes VCOSS CONGRESS 1 – 2 AUGUST 2007

18. Electoral rolls  Previously, when election called, 7 days to enrol or update details.  Now, electoral rolls close soon after election called  Enrolling for first time – rolls close day election called  Re-enrolling – rolls close day election called  Address or name details need updating – rolls close 3 days after election called VCOSS CONGRESS 1 – 2 AUGUST 2007

19. Proof of identify  Australian driver’s licence number, or  Passport, birth certificate, Medicare card, Centrelink concession card – show to authorised person on electoral roll who will then sign declaration form, or  Need 2 people who are enrolled & have known you for minimum of 1 month to confirm your identity (www.aec.gov.au)www.aec.gov.au VCOSS CONGRESS 1 – 2 AUGUST 2007

20. Where to from here?  Discussions with Victorian division of the AEC & other agencies – PILCH  VEC – Statewide Enrolment Day  Raise awareness for staff & clients  Enrolment forms at Hanover services  Postal votes  Post-federal election census VCOSS CONGRESS 1 – 2 AUGUST 2007