The Victorian Electoral Commission – the body that runs council elections across the state – recently revealed that 3544 Campaspe Shire residents will get an ‘Apparent Failure to Vote Notice’ in the coming weeks.
ARC Justice chief executive Damian Stock said understanding what the notice means is vital.
“If you missed voting in the 2024 council elections late last year, the VEC will send you this notice asking for an explanation,’’ he said.
‘’You won’t be fined if you have a valid reason and respond in time.
‘’We know that many Campaspe residents were still dealing with the impacts of floods during last year’s council elections.
‘’People were displaced, living away from home or facing ongoing disruptions.
“If flooding affected your ability to vote or if you had another valid reason – such as illness – you can explain this to the VEC.’’
The notice is not a fine, but ignoring it could lead to a $99 penalty.
To respond, visit www.vec.vic.gov.au/voting/fines-and-reviews or call 1300 551 575.
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