More than 430,000 failure to vote fines issued after council elections

MORE than $33 million in fines have been issued to Victorians who failed to vote in last year’s council elections, sparking outrage from thousands of people insisting they did the right thing.

About 430,000 Victorians have been issued infringement notices for failing to vote.

MORE than $33 million in fines have been issued to Victorians who failed to vote in last year’s council elections, sparking outrage from thousands of people who are insisting they did the right thing.

The Victorian Electoral Commission has issued more than 430,000 infringement notices, each one carrying a $78 fine.

RELATED: Yarra Ranges residents fined for not sending in council election postal vote

Of the fines issued, 81 per cent were for no response being received to the “initial failure to vote” notice sent out in January and February.

HAVE YOUR SAY: Did you get a fine for failing to vote? Tell us below

The VEC posted 598,913 failure to vote notices with about 70 per cent of people who responded being successful in having their fine excused. Voters faced a fine if an explanation in writing was not accepted.

Now local community forums are being flooded with accounts of people who are angry that their postal votes were not received or counted.

Some people have demanded a recount, claiming that the apparently large amount of uncounted votes called into question the results.

Melbourne residents copped the most fines (24,336), followed by Casey (23,544), Brimbank (15,423), Moreland (15,304), Hume (14,467), and Port Phillip (14,143).

Other areas with high fine counts were Darebin (13,707), Frankston (13,003), Mornington Peninsula (12,531), Stonnington (12,217), and Melton (11,308).

VEC spokesman Lawson Fletcher urged people to respond to the infringement, especially if they didn’t reply to the first notice.

Hundreds of people in the Yarra Ranges have taken to social media to complain about being fined for failing to vote.

Mr Lawson said voters had the option of paying the fine, requesting an internal review or electing to go to the Magistrates’ Court.

“If you did vote or believe you had a valid excuse for not voting, request an internal review and provide the VEC with as much supporting information as possible so we can make an independent assessment of your circumstances,” he said.

Mr Lawson said while the authority would help people where possible it had to comply with electoral law.

The VEC is the enforcement agency for compulsory voting.

“If you dated your vote late or it was received after the deadline, the law stipulates this is not a valid vote and we must conduct non-voter follow-up,” he said.

People who do not respond to the notice or pay the fine will receive a penalty reminder notice asking that the fine be paid, plus additional costs of $22.60, within 42 days.

If the amount isn’t paid during the penalty reminder stage the Infringements Court will issue an enforcement order.

For advice contact the VEC helpline on 1300 551 575.