By CAM LUCADOU-WELLS
YOUR voice belongs to you.
That’s the simple, vital message that Keysborough’s ‘democracy ambassador’ Nyandeng Ayul has for would-be state election voters.
Ms Ayul is part of a group of African Australians trained up by the Victorian Electoral Commission, in partnership with the Ethnic Communities Council of Victoria, to teach adults in Greater Dandenong how to vote.
She impresses on her students that they need not be afraid, they have the freedom to choose who they want.
“A lot of people in the South Sudanese community are keen to vote but not everyone knows how to vote correctly.”
Use numbers, not ticks or crosses. Number all the boxes, she tells her student voters.
She tells voters to seek help if they’re unsure – rather than joining the growing masses of informal voters.
During the last state election, there were more than 2700 informal voters – 8.6 per cent of the vote – in her seat formerly known as Lyndhurst.
She vividly recalls her struggles while voting in her first election in 2006, soon after arriving in Australia speaking just a “little bit” of English.
Her husband helped her work out the voting system and what each political party stood for but when she entered a polling station she stumbled over one important detail.
“I didn’t know where my vote was supposed to go. No one told me I have a right to ask someone where the ballot box was.”
Democracy ambassadors are available to provide free information sessions about voting at any local community event.
Sessions can be booked by contacting the VEC Outreach and Engagement Officer Asvin Phorugngam at asvin.phorugngam@vec.vic.gov.au or on 8620 1185.
