Didn't vote?
Infringement Notices are now being sent for 2020 local council elections
If you were required to vote in the 2020 local council elections and didn’t, and you either did not respond to the Apparent Failure to Vote Notice or did not provide a sufficient reason for not voting, you may receive an Infringement Notice that includes a penalty (a fine) of $83. The due date is included on your notice.
Read more information below about the steps in the enforcement process and your options when you receive a fine for not voting.
Didn't vote at an election?
In Australia, if you are enrolled to vote, you must vote in all Federal, State and council elections. If you do not vote, you may get a fine.The process
Step 1: Apparent Failure to Vote Notice
We will send you an Apparent Failure to Vote Notice if it appears you did not vote.
An Apparent Failure to Vote Notice is your opportunity to explain why you didn’t vote.
You must respond to this notice within 28 days.
Step 2: Infringement Notice (a fine)
You will receive an Infringement Notice with a fine if you did not vote and:
- you did not respond to an Apparent Failure to Vote notice
- your excuse for not voting was not considered valid and sufficient.
You have 28 days to pay the fine or take other action.
The fine for not voting is $83.00 for elections held after 1 July 2020.
This amount is indexed at the beginning of every financial year (1 July).
Step 3: Penalty reminder notice
If you do not pay your fine by the due date on the Infringement Notice, or take other action to deal with it, you will be:
- issued with a Penalty Reminder Notice
- required to pay the original fine plus a Penalty Reminder Notice fee of $25.80
- required to pay or take other action by the due date on the Penalty Reminder Notice.
You have 28 days to pay or take other action.
What are my options?
If you receive an Infringement Notice or a Penalty Reminder Notice, you have the following options.
Referral to Fines Victoria
If you do not pay or take action to deal with a Penalty Reminder notice, we will refer your matter to Fines Victoria for further enforcement action.
When a matter is with Fines Victoria, we cannot consider requests for payment plans, payment extensions or internal reviews.
More information
If you are unsure about what to do, or you need more information call 1300 551 575.
Other languages
Want this information in your language?
See our 2020 local council in-language videos or find out how to contact us through an interpreter.