Queensland moves to have electronic, and potentially online voting, within six years QUEENSLANDERS who fail to vote in State Elections will continue to cop a fine after the Newman Government decided not to scrap compulsory voting. But the Government will eventually make it more convenient to vote, moving to introduce electronic, and potentially online voting, within six years. Attorney-General Jarrod Bleijie yesterday announced Cabinet had decided against removing fines for voters who fail to show up on polling day. It comes after The Courier-Mail revealed in January the Government was reviewing compulsory voting among other reforms. Other changes include a new requirement for voters to show proof of identification at the polling booth, a move that could affect pensioners. How-To-Vote cards will also have to be published on the Electoral Commission Queensland (ECQ) website while the ECQ will be given the discretion to reject a card if it is found to be misleading. "We want to think outside the ballot box in terms of these reforms," Mr Bleijie said. "One of the initiatives we are going to implement in the 2015 election campaign will be electronic voting for those with disabilities in Queensland.," he said. Mr Bleijie said the Government was looking at what resources it would need as well as the security implications of such a trial. "My ideal would be that come six years we would be able to have a system of electronic voting for all Queenslanders," he said. Mr Bleijie said the issue of compulsory voting had proved a contentious one after the Government released its discussion paper but Cabinet had agreed to leave the fines and the voting system as it was. It has served us well. We believe the best way forward is to continue that voting pattern," he said. Mr Bleijie said the Government was also removing eligibility restrictions for postal or pre-poll votes. But a decision on whether or not to introduce fixed State Government terms of up to four years is yet to be made, he said, with discussions continuing. "It's a debate we need to have," Mr Bleijie said.