Barriers to Voting in Australian Union Elections

The success and credibility of union elections often rely on high levels of voter participation, either to adhere to governing rules that dictate the minimum proportion of members who must vote for the results to be valid or to ensure the outcomes fairly represent union members' opinions.

Barriers to participation are those factors that mean some members cannot or feel unable to vote. Examples include a lack of transport to attend in-person voting, visibility impairments that mean paper ballots are not accessible, or time constraints for union members with family responsibilities and other commitments.

As part of a drive to improve the accountability of union leaders, Australia has seen a large increase in the proportion of union votes that incorporate accessible and inclusive voting formats, from digital ballots to personalized reminders, emailed invitations to attend, and membership-wide reporting to aid in transparency and trust.

What Are the Most Prevalent Barriers to Voting in a Union Election Process?

Many of the hurdles that make it difficult or impossible for union members to attend or cast their vote are unrelated to their interest in the union's work, the decisions or matters being voted against, or their wish to participate in selecting new union representatives, board members, or officials.

Instead, barriers are sometimes complex and mean union members cannot use their power to vote because of a practical, physical, or time-based restriction that makes the voting system inaccessible.

Examples of Reasons Union Members Cannot Participate in Votes

Here are some scenarios to illustrate the scope and variety of barriers that exist:

• Language differences and sight impairments: A voter might not know how to vote if there is insufficient information about how the vote will work, be unable to vote if there is no option to bring a companion to help translate the ballot paper, or be unable to read the communications if they receive paper notifications only in English.
• Having no access to transport, being unable to stand in line for long periods, or using a wheelchair or mobility device: Some union members might feel anxious about voting if they have no confirmation of whether they will need to wait for extended times or will be able to access the voting venue.
• Being responsible for a young family or working long hours: Being unable to set the time aside to attend a voting process or polling station makes voting difficult, especially if this is a considerable distance from the voter’s home or place of work or open only during their working hours.

This small snapshot of issues union members might experience highlights why election officials need to consider how they cater to the needs of all members and ensure voting structures do not exclude large proportions.

Benefits of Inclusive Online Union Voting Systems

Online and digital democratic voting solutions have been rapidly adopted by various organizations, unions, trade bodies, and other membership-based groups seeking to overcome barriers to voting participation. The introduction of fast, reliable connectivity across most regions, easy access to smartphones and internet-connected devices, and the speed at which union officials can circulate notices, results, updates, and reminders have made digital voting far more convenient and cost-effective.

Although unions should remain conscious of the steps necessary to prevent fraud, such as providing one-use voting links or ID verification, they can quickly increase participation by offering alternative ways for members to get involved. 

For most, digital voting software is combined with conventional in-person voting or paper ballots to cater to all–ensuring that digital voting options do not exclude other groups of members without online devices or for whom the familiarity of paper ballots is preferred. However, many unions have already found that offering online voting through platforms like ElectionBuddy is more likely to engage less-active union members who can participate at their convenience!