Queensland election 2017: What happens if you don’t vote

FORGETFUL Queensland voters face a fine of more than double that of their NSW counterparts and more than six times that of residents in WA and the ACT if they fail to make it to the polling booth for this Saturday’s election.

Not voting in the state election? Be prepared to fork out $126. Picture: Justin Brierty

FORGETFUL Queensland voters face a fine of more than double that of their NSW counterparts if they fail to make it to the polling booth for this Saturday’s state election.

The Electoral Commission Queensland (ECQ) has confirmed the penalty for failing to have a valid reason for not voting was $126.

It’s one of, if not, the most expensive penalties for failing to vote in Australia.

Eligible NSW residents who fail to be marked off the roll at state elections are penalised $55, according to the Electoral Commission of NSW. Victorians are slugged $79.

In comparison, the ACT and WA have the bargain-basement rate of $20.

An ECQ spokeswoman said there was the discretion to reduce the fine but at the last state election in 2015, more than 100,000 Queenslanders were fined $126.

The total amount of fines exceeded $1 million.

An Electoral Commission NSW spokesman said 368,740 penalty notices were issued to enrolled residents who failed to vote in the 2015 State election.

It represented 7.3 per cent of eligible voters.

“The penalty notice for apparent failure to vote allows for people to provide a reason for not voting. If this reason is accepted the penalty notice is withdrawn,” he said.

“A total of 155,901 electors had their penalty notices withdrawn.”

A spokesman for the Victorian Electoral Commission (VEC) said the fine in 2014 (the last state election) was $74 and 126,238 infringement notices were issued.

“ … which equates to 3 per cent of the total enrolled electors,” the VEC spokesman said.

At the 2014 South Australian election, 26,536 failure to vote notices were sent out, according to an Electoral Commission South Australia spokesperson.

Under SA laws, the penalty for failing to vote is $50, however, if paid on time and once a victim’s of crime levy is added, it creases to a minimum of $70.

So far more than half a million Queenslanders have made use of the pre-poll stations that have been in operation for more than a week, which equates to more than 14 per cent of enrolled voters.

The ECQ will start to issue fines early in the New Year.

Not voting in the state election? Be prepared to fork out $126. Picture: Justin Brierty

Examples of fines for failing to vote:

Queensland: $126

Victoria: $79

SA: $70 (Fine $50, reduced to $10 expiation fee plus $60 victims of crime levy if paid on time)

NSW: $55

TAS: $31.40

NT: $25

ACT: $20

WA: $20

Originally published as Queensland election 2017: What happens if you don’t vote