Teacher Peter Judd arranged for the opportunity for students like Cristy Scott-Smith, Stephanie Whitbread, Jamie Hartley, Tanika Currell, Lachlan Browne and Morgan Harvey to enrol to vote.

Students ready to vote

By Owen Hasler

Like many others nationwide, year 12 students at Oxley High School have taken the opportunity to enrol to vote in the lead up to the 2007 federal election.

Some 80 students at Oxley High School enrolled to vote in response to the recent Australian Electoral Commission package which was sent to schools.

Oxley High School Federation Representative and Tamworth Association Councillor Peter Judd saw the importance of the enrolment process as a means of ensuring all eligible voters received the opportunity to vote.

"The Howard Government has altered the enrolment timetable from a maximum of seven days from the time an election is called until within 24 hours of the calling of an election," Mr Judd said.

"This would see many potential voters disenfranchised so I saw this as an opportunity to assist young voters to ensure their enrolment and the exercise of their democratic right."

"Most of the eligible students took the initiative and enrolled and we hope that there is a similar positive reaction for the initiative by other 17 and 18 year olds across Australia," he said.

"Seventeen year olds can enrol now and provided their 18th birthday occurs before the federal election...they will be eligible to vote," Mr Judd explained.

Oxley High School year 12 Business Studies students saw it as an excellent opportunity to enrol.

Christy Scott-Smith said: "It is an opportunity to have a voice in who becomes the government and provides a means of my opinion being heard."

Fellow student Morgan Harvey saw it as a convenient process by doing it at school and was grateful that the school had provided the students with the opportunity to enrol.

Stephanie Whitbread said she "probably wouldn't have enrolled otherwise as her birthday is not until October".

However, enrolling is not the only step in the democratic process.

Lachlan Browne said: "Now that I have enrolled I will be sure to vote."

Mr Judd said he would encourage all schools to provide the opportunity for eligible students to enrol.

"The cynical exercise to disenfranchise many potential voters will, potentially, backfire provided the majority of young voters are encouraged to vote," Mr Judd added.

Owen Hasler is a Country Organiser.

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