Information on referendum processes:
We haven’t had a referendum since 1999, so for anyone under 42, this is the first opportunity to vote in an election of this kind. It’s important to understand how the process works not only so that we know what’s going on when we go to vote, but also because electoral processes are not immune to misinformation.
Referendums are pretty straightforward – unlike the other elections we’ve had in the past year there’s only one box to fill in, so no preferential voting or anything like that!
The Smashed Avocado
You can find more info on how referendums work and what Australian’s have voted on in the past here and this referendum here. We’ll also be putting up more on the referendum between now and 14 October and you’ll be able to find all that here.
Australian Electoral Commission (AEC)
This podcast is produced by the AEC, the independent body that run elections, and unpacks the process ahead of the referendum so that you can vote with confidence. Episodes range from approximately 5-15 minutes with transcripts available.
The AEC also has written explainers around referendums, how they work and what the process will look like. They also have a disinformation register listing prominent pieces of disinformation the AEC has discovered regarding the referendum, and details of actions they’ve taken in response.
Information on the voice to parliament:
There’s a lot of, often conflicting, information around not only the referendum process but what the question is asking and the implications of it passing (or not). The AEC are encouraging the public to, stop, check and consider information related to the referendum, and we think this is a pretty solid rule of thumb for the next few weeks. Below are some great resources that cover everything from what the voice is to guides on having respectful conversations and minimising harm during the campaign period.
Australian Human Rights Commission
The Commission has produced an educational resource kit to encourage the Australian public to consider the Uluru Statement from the Heart and the Indigenous Voice to Parliament referendum through a human rights lens.
The Commission’s Voice referendum resources seek to minimise harm by encouraging cultural humility and focusing the conversation on human rights principles as they relate to the referendum and proposed Voice to Parliament.
Youth Affairs Council Victoria (YACVic)
Voice to Parliament Referendum Navigator
Our friends (and sister-peak) over at YACVic have put together a resource to educate and empower young people about the Indigenous Voice to Parliament referendum, the voting process and what it all means that we highly recommend checking out!
SBS
Voice to Parliament pamphlets factchecked
The AEC basically functions as a mailbox when it comes to the official yes/no pamphlet – they receive the cases, format and send it out, but they don’t fact check or edit the content. While claims in both pamphlets are pretty hard to verify definitively because the details of the voice will be worked out after a successful referendum*, the SBS worked with RMIT's FactLab CrossCheck to give some more context to them.
*As a side note, this is part of how policy works more generally – want more info on what ‘policy’ is and how it works check out our explainer here.
