Failure to vote in the election could cost you between $20 and a court date

For some Australians voting is just an extra hassle, but there is a pretty good vote to make sure your name is marked off.

For many Australians, compulsory voting can feel both feel annoying.

In the grand scheme of things, one vote out of hundreds of thousands (depending on your electorate) surely won’t affect the outcome of the federal election.

However, failure to vote in a federal election can result in a fine from authorities, and even lead to a court day if you’re not careful.

If you’re a no-show to get your name checked off the electoral roll before polls close at 6pm on May 21, a $20 penalty will arrive in the mail, courtesy of the Australian Electoral Commission (AEC).

Failure to pay in time could see the fine blow out to in excess of $200, alongside court fees.

If you’re so disenfranchised by the options on the table that you don’t want to vote for anyone, you can cast a “donkey vote” – but you must have your name ticked off by officials to show you’ve at least put the paper in the box.

Despite the strict laws, there are some valid reasons for choosing not to vote.

“Physical obstruction, whether of sickness or outside prevention, or of natural events, or accident of any kind, would certainly be recognised by law,” a High Court spokesman told Yahoo Finance.

“One might also imagine cases where an intending voter on his way to the poll was diverted to save life, or to prevent crime, or to assist at some great disaster, such as a fire: in all of which cases, in my opinion, the law would recognise the competitive claims of public duty.”

Feeling as though religious duty calls one to abstain from voting is also considered a valid reason to avoid the booths come polling day.

If you can’t make it along to the ballot box on Saturday, check out our guide of how and where to pre-poll so you can still have your say on who leads the nation.

Originally published as Failure to vote in the election could cost you between $20 and a court date