Equality advocates say it is not clear if so-called silent voters, including many members of parliament, will be able to vote in the foreshadowed postal vote on marriage equality.

 

The addresses of silent voters are not included on the electoral roll for personal or security reasons and it is not clear the Australian Electoral Commission has the legal authority to release these details to the Australian Bureau of Statistics which will conduct the poll.

 

Silent voters typically include politicians, police, judges and prison officers, among others.

 

Just.equal spokesperson, Ivan Hinton-Teoh, said,

 

"It would be ironic if the very people who are making us go through this expensive, unrepresentative, non-binding vote are themselves unable to vote."

 

"This is just another example of how ill-planned, badly-executed and downright shonky this process will be."

 

"I urge the Government to clarify if silent voters will be able to participate."

 

Former NSW public servant and respected blogger Stephen Murray has wirtten about this issue here