Responding to a failure to vote notice
If you received a letter in the post called an 'Apparent failure to vote notice', this is because it looks like you may not have voted in the:
- Greater Bendigo City Council, Lockwood Ward by-election
- Nepean District by-election.
This letter is your chance to explain whether you voted or not. If you didn't vote, you can write down your reason. If you did vote, you can tell us where you voted so we can check our records.
Why we sent you this notice
Voting is an important right, but it’s also a responsibility. If you don’t vote in a by-election and you don’t have a good reason, we will send you a fine.
More information about fines and reviews
The letter we sent you is your chance to let us know why you didn’t vote. We use this information to decide if you have a proper reason for not voting.
If you did vote, this letter is your chance to tell us the details about this.
What you need to do
There are 3 ways you can respond to this notice - online, by letter or email.
- Visit the response page at cvresponse.vec.vic.gov.au.
- Enter the reference number on your notice, your date of birth and date of election/close of voting.
- Your reference number can be found on the hard copy of your notice:
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Follow the prompts to complete the online form with your name, contact number and email address.
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If you did vote, choose the relevant option and follow the prompts to tell us when and where you returned your ballot pack. You can attach any supporting documents you have.
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If you didn’t vote, choose the relevant option and follow the prompts to provide a reason and attach any supporting documents you have, like a travel itinerary.
I voted, does this mean my vote wasn't counted?
No, we count every vote.
Mistakes can happen, and you may not have been marked off the roll correctly. This is one of the reasons why we get in touch with you before sending out a fine.