Victorians who didn’t vote in the 2024 local council elections—and failed to provide a valid reason—will begin receiving $99 fines this week, according to the Victorian Electoral Commission (VEC).
Over 530,000 people were initially sent an ‘Apparent failure to vote’ notice in February and March this year. After assessing the responses, the VEC has excused around 15 per cent of recipients—leaving more than 450,000 individuals now facing formal infringements.
The fines are being issued from this week onwards, with each notice requiring a response within 35 days. Those fined can choose to pay, request an internal review, or take the matter to court.
Electoral Commissioner Sven Bluemmel urged recipients to take the notice seriously.
“The most important thing is that you respond to the notice before the deadline—otherwise, you could be issued a penalty reminder notice, which carries the original penalty plus an additional administration fee,” Mr Bluemmel said.
Voting in local council elections is compulsory in Victoria for all enrolled voters. The VEC said it remains committed to ensuring electoral participation remains high, and that fines are a last resort for those who fail to meet their civic responsibilities.
For those who are unsure how to proceed, the VEC encourages calling 1300 551 575 or visiting vec.vic.gov.au/voting/fines-and-reviews.
To avoid missing future election dates, Victorians can sign up for the free VoterAlert SMS and email service, which helped remind 2.5 million people during the last election cycle. More details are available at vec.vic.gov.au/voteralert.
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