VEC seeks explanation from people who haven’t voted

THE Victorian Electoral Commission (VEC) is urging Victorians who were sent an Apparent Failure to Vote Notice to respond by the 28-day deadline with a detailed explanation.

The notice – which is a not a fine – asks apparent non-voters for a reason for why they appear not to have voted in the most recent council elections, which were held on October 24, 2020.

The VEC says a detailed response with supporting documentation, where possible, will help to determine if the excuse is considered sufficient.

However, ignoring the notice, or not providing a sufficient reason for not voting, may result in an infringement notice and a penalty of $83.

Electoral Commissioner Warwick Gately said recipients of the Apparent Failure to Vote Notice should contact the VEC for assistance if unsure what to do, rather than ignore the notice.

“If you need help understanding what the notice means and what you need to do, you can phone us on 1300 551 575 or head to our website at vec.vic.gov.au,” he said.

“We are seeking from you a reason why you appear not to have voted.

“I also encourage you to sign up to our VoterAlert service, to make sure you’re notified whenever there’s a state or local council election happening.”

People can sign up at vec.vic.gov.au/voteralert to receive important reminders about coming state and local council elections.