Greens leader Shane Rattenbury has thrown his support behind an end to a ban on political campaigners within 100 metres of polling places for the ACT election, and wants a discussion on the use of early voting.
"Now some people say, 'I don't want to be harassed as I walk up to the polling booth', and I respect that. But most campaign volunteers are not really pushy," Mr Rattenbury said.
"They will try and make an effort but simply saying, 'No, thanks, I've made up my mind', will actually deal with most people. They will leave you alone."
Mr Rattenbury said he'd rather fall on the side of allowing people to access political information closer to polling places.
"We are keen to talk more about the 100-metre rule. I think everybody across all the political parties, across all the candidates and volunteers I spoke to at this election, finds the current system unsatisfactory," he said.
Leanne Castley, the deputy Liberal leader, on Wednesday said she would be open to discussing a change to the rule.
"There's no doubt the 100-metre rule is very painful for every one of us at pre-polling. Casey in particular, Nicholls oval, people just drive right on past you. So it feels like a fruitless few weeks. Door knocking: people say they've already voted. So it's a really difficult thing for candidates," Ms Castley said.
The 100-metre rule was introduced in 1995 by then attorney-general Gary Humphries. The rule was a recommendation made in the final report from 1993 of the Working Party on the Implementation of the Hare-Clark Electoral System, which was chaired by Mr Humphries.
Mr Rattenbury said a debate was needed on the balance between early voting maximising participation in the election and ensuring voters were well-informed before casting their ballots.
"Obviously, making sure it's easy for the community to get in to vote is a really important part of participation. On the flip side, the point's been made that often the full detail of election policies don't come out until just in the days beforehand, and people are voting before that," he said.
"Personally, I hold the view that election day is an important part of democracy and there's a real sense of communities coming together at voting booths."
About half of voters in the ACT cast a ballot before polling day this year, down from 2020 when Canberrans were encouraged to vote early to manage crowds during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Changes to the electoral laws before the 2024 election mean voters no longer need a reason to vote early.
Mr Rattenbury said the Greens would also be interested in reviving the discussion about the use of roadside corflutes in election campaigns. The Greens do not set up corflutes on public land, but do distribute some for use as front yard signs.
"There was a frustration at both the amount of energy it takes to put them out and the level of vandalism and destruction that goes on and whether it really is an effective campaigning tool. And we, again, need to think carefully about these things [to] come out with a sensible option that doesn't disenfranchise people," he said.
Electoral Commissioner Damian Cantwell declared the final results of the territory election on Tuesday.
Mr Rattenbury said the Greens were still making up their minds about whether to seek positions in cabinet, but said negotiations were continuing with ACT Labor this week.
"We've got a deadline, of course, next Wednesday when the Assembly first sits. We continue to focus really on the issues that went to the election and finding a workable program for the next four years," he said.
with Lucy Bladen
