§ 75. “Qualification of Electors of Senators.”
The qualification of electors of senators in each State is the same as the qualification of electors of representatives in each State. This qualification is defined in sec. 30, a reference to which is necessary to explain the meaning of the expression “That which is prescribed by this Constitution or by the Parliament.” In sec. 30 the Constitution prescribes that the qualification of electors of representatives shall be, in each State, that which is prescribed by the law of the State as the qualification of electors of the more numerous House of the Parliament of the State. This therefore is the Constitutional provision for the qualification of electors of both Houses. But by virtue of the words “Until the Parliament otherwise provides” this constitutional provision may be altered by the Parliament, without the necessity of recourse to the process of amendment of the Constitution under sec. 128. The Parliament may pass a suffrage law for the Commonwealth, superseding at all Federal elections the State suffrages, subject to the restriction prescribed by section 41. The Parliament cannot, however, prescribe one suffrage for the Senate and another for the House of Representatives. Whatever suffrage it prescribes for the House of Representatives will, by virtue of this section, be the suffrage for the Senate also. (For Notes on Suffrage see § 122, infra.)