An 'archaic' law has been removing Australians with disability from the electoral roll 'in droves', advocates say - ABC News (Elizabeth Wright

An ‘archaic’ law has been removing Australians with disability from the electoral roll ‘in droves’, advocates say – ABC News (Elizabeth Wright | May 2022)

by Gary Allen
May 30, 2022

Melbourne woman Shea MacDonough is 36 years old and excited to be voting in her first federal election.

There are many reasons why we are delighted to live in Australia, rather than the US. After the NDIS, there’s universal healthcare and gun control. What I thought we also didn’t have, was the systemic denial of the right to vote for large sections of Australian society. After reading this disgusting situation, we aren’t quite so sure we are living in a lucky country. We have an opinion on the future of this country and we expect to be listened to and respected.

Ms MacDonough, who lives with Down syndrome, was taken off the electoral roll by her parents in 2012.

They were concerned she didn’t understand the voting process and were worried they could influence her vote.

But no one realised how hard it would be for Ms MacDonough to get back on the electoral roll when she wanted to.

It was during Australia’s same sex marriage referendum in 2017, that Ms MacDonough decided she wanted to have her say.

“My cousin and her partner, they’re both gay, and I wanted to be on the same sex marriage vote so I could vote for that,” she said.

With her parents’ support, Ms MacDonough went onto the electoral roll website to re-register but later received a letter from the Australian Electoral Commission (AEC) saying she’d been rejected.

Shea lives with Down syndrome and had to fight an ‘archaic’ law to win back her right to vote

Shea MacDonough, 36, is voting in her first federal election after fighting what disability advocates say is an outdated law.

There are many reasons why we are delighted to live in Australia, rather than the US. After the NDIS, there's universal healthcare and gun control. What I thought we also didn't have, was the systemic denial of the right to vote for large sections of Australian society. After reading this disgusting situation, we aren't quite so sure we are living in a lucky country. We have an opinion on the future of this country and we expect to be listened to and respected.

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