Citizens or denizens? Kindred nations and the voting rights of permanent residents

This article addresses the voting rights of non-citizens in parliamentary elections, from an Australasian and a comparative international perspective. It first offers a survey of contemporary practice internationally. Whilst a permanent resident franchise is far from the norm, reciprocal practices have emerged between some kindred nations. The ground-breaking New Zealand model – where, since 1975, citizens and non-citizens alike qualify to vote, provided they maintain continuing physical connection with the country – is compared to a recent Australian proposal to reciprocate voting rights for New Zealanders with indefinite residency rights in Australia. Other practical considerations are canvassed. Should electoral compulsion (to enrol in New Zealand and to enrol and turn out in Australia) apply to non-citizens? What are the challenges of the politics and timing of franchise reform, given nationalist resentments? Ultimately, the article concludes that whilst kinship extensions may not seem principled from a pure human rights perspective, they are pragmatically justifiable.