The parliament's electoral matters committee has been urged to consider allowing permanent residency visa holders to vote.
French-born graphic designer Sylvain Garcia, who has lived in Australia for eight years, has urged the electoral matters committee to overturn a law change made in 1981 that restricted the right to vote to citizens, rather than permanent residents.
"Today, at 29 years old, I feel more Australian than French," he wrote in his submission.
"I know many permanent residents feel the same and I can't help but wonder why this huge chunk of people living in Australia cannot be part of the decisions made for the country."
Mr Garcia cited the Australian Bureau of Statistics figures showing there were 2.2 million permanent residents who are not citizens.
He found the impact was greatest in NSW where 36 per cent of Australia's permanent residents live, with a further 34 per cent in Victoria and 11 per cent in Queensland.
Some British subjects living permanently in Australia, who are not Australian citizens, are eligible to vote but they must have been enrolled before January 26, 1984.
Mr Garcia intends to apply for citizenship next year in order to vote in elections.
"I worked hard over the years to stay in this country, to integrate myself with the communities and help develop this beautiful country in a positive way."
