Media Consumption and Voting Stability in Australia’s Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice to Parliament Referendum

This study of media consumption in relation to voting decisions during the Australian 2023 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice to Parliament referendum contributes to a complex field of research interested in how media shapes and influences voting behaviour. Through a two-wave panel survey of 1525 voters a month before and directly after the referendum, this study found clear differences between voters who were stable—those who had made up their mind a month before they voted, and voters who were unstable—those who had uncertain views. Stable voters were found to selectively expose themselves to media that aligned with their voting intentions and to consume more types of media overall. Conversely, unstable voters did not selectively expose themselves to media and consumed fewer types of media than stable voters. These findings demonstrate that the relationship between media consumption and democratic processes is complex. Media can have a positive influence on engagement and can present a range of views to help voters make informed decisions. But media can also contribute to disengagement from democratic processes, which has concerning implications for the health of democracy.