Interesting, thanks Jim. Compulsory voting? How about that. I think I might add one idea to your list....when you see clearly the system is rigged against you, it lowers the probability of thinking voting is necessary.
The prison population in Australia is around 44,000. While voting is compulsory, prisoners serving sentences of more than three years are ineligible to vote. In practice very few prisoners actually vote (274 at the last election - see the following link). Since around 95% of prisoners are male, this may be one reason for the discrepancy in the number of votes cast by male and female voters.
It would be interesting to find out from the AEC how many male and female voters are enrolled in Australia, and how many males and females are eligible to vote but yet to enrol. That would help to clarify whether the discrepancy is due to there being more enrolled female voters, and whether apathy is a contributing factor.
I understand the point you make re felonies and men committing them, however there is also a significant gender bias eg in sentencing for the same or lesser offences.
Life expectancy would be an issue in terms of aging out, however the suicide rate would be a significant factor also.
These issues would exist across the west. Certainly they do in Australia, the UK, and USA.
Interesting, thanks Jim. Compulsory voting? How about that. I think I might add one idea to your list....when you see clearly the system is rigged against you, it lowers the probability of thinking voting is necessary.
Apathy would be influential even in the compulsory environment.
None of the party's/candidates giving you confidence they will "improve the situation" was the reason I didn't vote the first time I didn't have to.
The prison population in Australia is around 44,000. While voting is compulsory, prisoners serving sentences of more than three years are ineligible to vote. In practice very few prisoners actually vote (274 at the last election - see the following link). Since around 95% of prisoners are male, this may be one reason for the discrepancy in the number of votes cast by male and female voters.
It would be interesting to find out from the AEC how many male and female voters are enrolled in Australia, and how many males and females are eligible to vote but yet to enrol. That would help to clarify whether the discrepancy is due to there being more enrolled female voters, and whether apathy is a contributing factor.
https://www.sbs.com.au/news/article/just-274-prisoners-voted-at-the-last-election-inmates-say-the-process-feels-dehumanising/tnfeep1oo
Thank you for sharing the link.
Curiously, there are countries (Spain) where males are more engaged in polítics. Or at least, were.
I understand the point you make re felonies and men committing them, however there is also a significant gender bias eg in sentencing for the same or lesser offences.
Life expectancy would be an issue in terms of aging out, however the suicide rate would be a significant factor also.
These issues would exist across the west. Certainly they do in Australia, the UK, and USA.
Early male death from suicide is part of what contributes to the life expectancy difference.