ABSTRACT
The Second Reading Speech of this chapter considers amendments of the Commonwealth Electoral Act 1918 (‘the Act’) that disproportionately disenfranchise Aboriginal women from Commonwealth elections if they are serving a lengthy term of imprisonment or if they have been deemed of ‘unsound mind’. Electoral penalties within the Act for enrolled voters who are unable to access a polling booth on election day to cast their vote also fail to consider the experiences of Aboriginal women who are financially vulnerable and living remotely. Such amendments are then assessed from an informed Aboriginal woman’s perspective in the commentary to show how they could enhance the political participation of Aboriginal women.
