A compliant electrode is a stretchable electronic device that retains good conductivity under stretching or bending. It has been used in various electro-actuating applications which require large deformations under electrical field. The objective of this work was to fabricate a compliant electrode possessing high electrical conductivity and good mechanical properties. Due to the excellent mechanical properties of natural rubber (NR), it was used as a matrix for the compliant electrode. Graphene was used as a new and innovative conductive filler to provide excellent electrical conductivity. The mechanical properties and electrical properties were investigated by using a rheometer in the tension mode. Both mechanical and electrical properties were improved drastically by introducing graphene into the matrix. The highest electrical conductivity of 0.61 S/cm was obtained from the 35.0 %vol/vol graphene/NR composite, two orders of magnitude higher than that of the commercial compliant electrode. The 5.0 %vol/vol graphene/NR composite was shown and identified here as a promising material for using as a compliant electrode. POLYM. ENG. SCI., 57:129136, 2017. (C) 2016 Society of Plastics Engineers