Northern Territory elections: $25 fine for non-voting is no deterrent, NTEC and City of Darwin say
Both the Electoral Commission and the City of Darwin say they are deeply concerned about the Territory’s woeful voter turnout rates – and have identified the lack of deterrent provided by the paltry $25 fine.
Northern Territory
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Both the Northern Territory Electoral Commission and the City of Darwin say they are deeply concerned about the Territory’s woeful voter turnout rates – and have identified the lack of deterrent provided by the paltry $25 fine for non-voting.
According to figures provided by the Commission [NTEC], while enrolments in the Territory are at their “highest... ever,” with 152,911 registered to vote – or 92 per cent of the eligible population – this has not translated into strong turnouts at recent elections.
The 2020 Territory general election saw a participation rate of 78 per cent and the 2021 NT local government elections saw a dire rate of just 65 per cent.
Voter turnout (lower than the participation rate, as it excludes cast votes that were ruled ineligible) for last year’s Voice referendum was 79.2 per cent in Solomon and 64.4 per cent in Lingiari.
Barely more than one-in-two (50.8 per cent) voted in the recent by-election for the City of Darwin’s Lyons Ward.
Voting is compulsory in Australia.
“The NTEC is concerned about the low participation rates at elections in the Northern Territory,” a spokeswoman said.
“Recent feedback received when speaking to non-voters following an urban by-election included not knowing an election was on, not knowing about the candidates, voter fatigue and apathy.”
It can now be revealed that one of the main weapons in the NTEC’s arsenal to ensure voter compliance – levying fines upon non-voters – is ignored by more than 90 per cent of voters due to its paltry sting of $25 and lack of enforcement.
According to the NTEC, after the 2020 Territory general election, 15,462 out of a total of 36,987 non-voters were sent an infringement notice.
Just eight per cent – 1269 people – paid the notice.
The NTEC spokeswoman said her organisation had always maintained that $50 was an appropriate infringement amount, not $25.
By contrast, the fine is $154.80 in Queensland and $109 in South Australia.
The City of Darwin recently addressed the subject in its public submission to the federal Joint Standing Committee on Electoral Matters, which is investigating civics education, engagement and participation in Australia.
The council’s chief executive Simone Saunders said their turnout rate declined between the 2017 and 2021 local government elections.
“This reduction in turnout was despite changes to reduce complexity for voters and candidates such as changes to declaration voting that allows electors who turn up at a voting centre but are not enrolled (or are enrolled for an interstate address) to still cast a vote that can be admitted to the count,” she said.
“City of Darwin is... of the view that compliance needs to be strengthened.
“The fine for failure to vote does not appear to be an incentive to vote.
“It is... uneconomical when NTEC undertakes non-voter compliance after elections.”
Ms Saunders called for additional funding to encourage Territorians “not just to register to vote, but to take an active and informed interest in civic matters”.
New initiatives could include tailored education for migrant and First Nations communities, and integrating enrolment checks when relocating defence personnel.
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