List of Recommendations

Recommendation 1

3.10

The Committee recommends that the Commonwealth Electoral Act (1918) and the Referendum (Machinery Provisions) Act (1984) be amended, based upon the Australian Electoral Commission’s proposals contained in Appendix A of this report.

Recommendation 2

3.55

The Committee recommends that the Australian Government consider additional funding for the Australian Electoral Commission to invest in modernisation for future federal elections, including:

Planning and expert advice on upgrading the AEC’s information technology and business systems.

Additional training for temporary staff who are likely to remain engaged over multiple elections.

The deployment of additional electronic certified lists at polling stations.

A trial to test the scanning and electronic counting of House of Representatives ballot papers.

Recommendation 3

3.56

The Committee recommends that the AEC consider specific operational systems and training to accommodate the particular challenges associated with the conduct of elections in rural and regional areas, hospitals and aged care facilities.

Recommendation 4

3.57

The Committee recommends the Australian Electoral Commission extend the deployment of electronic certified lists at the next federal election to ensure all polling places (including all absentee voting points) and mobile teams are equipped with at least one electronic certified list, or as a minimum an electronic roll lookup facility.

Recommendation 5

3.58

The Committee recommends that the Australian Electoral Commission provide updates to the Committee every six months on priorities and progress towards modernisation for future elections, in order for the Committee to review this activity on an ongoing basis.

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