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

HUNDREDS of residents in Melbourne’s outer east are furious after being fined for failing to vote in last year’s council election, where one in four didn’t make it to the polls.

Angry Yarra Ranges residents have received VEC fines in the mail for not voting in last year’s council election.

FURY has erupted on social media with hundreds of Yarra Ranges residents venting their anger after receiving fines for not voting in last year’s council election.

The Yarra Ranges Noticeboard was a flood of angry comments at having received fines for not sending in their postal vote before the October 21 deadline but many say they did comply.

HAVE YOUR SAY: Is it fair to fine residents for not casting a postal vote in a council election? Leave a comment below

According the Victorian Electoral Commission website, apparent failure to vote notices were sent out in January and February to people who appeared not to have voted in the 2016 council elections. They face a $78 fine if an excuse or explanation in writing is not accepted.

Woori Yallock resident Trent Buller said he had talked to at least 10 people in the Yarra Valley who all were fined for not voting.

“Every one of the 10 people I have spoken to has received a $78 fine for not doing a postal vote, some didn’t know, some didn’t get a vote card and some sent it but still got fined,” Mr Buller said.

He told Leader while he had not been fined, the postal voting system had failed.

“Something has got to be wrong with the process of the election,” Mr Buller said. “I know families who have had four people in the household who have all been fined.

The Yarra Ranges council has been slammed by angry residents. Picture: Lawrence Pinder

“To be handing out fines after the first postal vote (for Yarra Ranges) it’s pretty rude they’re handing out fines.”

Leader understands residents from other municipalities have also had similar experiences with fines arriving in their letterbox despite either having voted or not receiving their ballot packs.

Others claimed they didn’t know there was an election.

One noticeboard member Kylie French said she was ropeable to receive the fine despite having posted her vote in two days before the closing date.

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“I work for the VEC when there is an election and I called them, but they said ‘pay your fine’,” Ms French said. “They said my excuse was not compliant.”

Suzanne Jerram also vented her anger on the noticeboard and said despite mailing four family member votes in together, at the same time, two of her adult children received a fine.

Alisha Sharpe said she phoned the VEC after being sent a fine and was told the organisation was receiving a high number of calls.

Another resident Roslyn Leighton said: “Yes I got a fine today. Even though I posted four family members together, mine was the only one they didn’t receive.”

Brenda Todaro said: “Council should go back to a voting venues. Then we wouldn’t be slapped with their mess and mail mishaps.”

VEC senior communication officer Lawson Fletcher said 15,016 Yarra Ranges residents were initially sent apparent failure to vote notices.

Of those, 10,596 (80 per cent) did not respond and therefore were sent fines, he said.

“If you do not respond to the infringement notice, a penalty reminder notice is sent to you,” Mr Fletcher said.

“If you do not pay your fine during the penalty stage, your details will be provided to the Infringements Court for further action ...(which) will then issue an enforcement order.”

He said recent legislation changes meant the VEC was able to accept postal votes up to five days after the close of polls.

Mr Lawson advised those who wanted a review of a fine to respond to the VEC on 1300 551 575.

Yarra Ranges Council corporate services director Troy Edwards said all inquiries relating to the running of the election and enforcement of compulsory voting should be directed to the VEC.