It's a race against time to ensure people vote on marriage equality in Australia
In Australia, the deadline to enrol to vote for marriage equality is approaching fast.
Australians will be sent a voluntary postal survey on the matter in September, after the country's government failed to get its marriage equality plebiscite (a public vote on an issue which doesn't affect the country's constitution) through parliament twice.
The announcement of a postal vote has culminated in a campaign called Equality Weekender, a series of events, parties and barbecues between Aug. 17 to 20 around Sydney -- and hopefully nationally -- encouraging people to enrol or ensure they're eligible to vote.
The campaign, which has only materialised in the past few days with the help of a team of five people, has signed on more than 40 venues, which will allow people to enrol on the spot.
Time is very short: The closing date for enrolments is Aug. 24, and the postal survey (if it isn't nixed by the country's highest court) will start on Sept. 12.
Equality Weekender organiser Kat Dopper, who also runs a series of LGBTQ-friendly parties called Heaps Gay, said the campaign's aim is to connect with people who may be disengaged with politics and thus the voting process.
"If you look at the venues, they're not necessarily LGBT venues. We're talking local pubs, or restaurants, and it's targeting people that may not necessarily care," she explained.
While the country has compulsory voting, the country's electoral commission estimates more than 800,000 people aren't enrolled to vote, roughly 5 per cent of Australia's population.
"It's targeting people that may not necessarily care."
It's a starker statistic among those aged 18 to 24. More than 250,000 young people have gone missing from the electoral roll since the last election, according to the ABC. A staggering number, given marriage equality is an issue that would particularly resonate among that group.
What's more, the postal survey is expected to cost A$122 million (US$96 million). It's a controversial amount of money to spend, considering the survey is non-binding, and the government can choose to ignore the results if they so wish.
"We are constantly fighting to create safe spaces and look after the mental health of young people, and support the trans community," Dopper said. "When you can see the government can get $122 million and waste it on something that doesn't link to any form of legislation, it makes me incredibly angry."
Following Equality Weekender, the campaign is set to transition to one around the "yes" vote.
"It's all good and well to get people enrolled," she explained. "But I don't remember the last time I put something in the mail, so I can imagine snail mail isn't something people go out of their way to do."
But in the end it's about people "getting a piece of paper, filling it out and posting it back with a yes." By the way, the link to enrol is here.
