Postal voting bungle infuriates Melburnians slapped with fail-to-vote fines

A POSTAL voting bungle has infuriated Melburnians slapped with $78 fail-to-vote fines — but many insist they did the right thing.

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

A POSTAL voting bungle has infuriated Melburnians slapped with $78 fail-to-vote fines — but many insist they did the right thing.

Residents of Yarra Ranges fined after their votes were not recorded in last year’s council elections have vented their anger on social media, claiming that they actually complied with the rules.

The Yarra Ranges Noticeboard on Facebook was a flood of angry comments from residents who received fines for not sending in their postal vote before the October 21 deadline — but many say they did comply.

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.

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.

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

It was the first time the Yarra Ranges council elections included a postal vote.

“To be handing out fines after the first postal vote it’s pretty rude they’re handing out fines,” Mr Buller said.

Leader understands residents from other Melbourne municipalities 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.”

Leader has contacted the VEC and the council for comment.

Originally published as Postal voting bungle infuriates Melburnians slapped with fail-to-vote fines