3647 residents fined for not voting

ALMOST 30 per cent of Greater Dandenong residents failed to vote in last year’s council elections.
Following the election, 8721 “apparent failure to vote” notices were issued in Greater Dandenong by the Victorian Electoral Commission (VEC) who is responsible for the management of the election.
After collecting responses and conducting further follow up, the VEC sent out 3,647 infringement notices in April 2009.
A spokesperson for the VEC said if the excuses people provided were not deemed acceptable excuses, they were issued with a penalty notice for $57.
If the penalty wasn’t paid or a valid excuse is not provided within 42 days, a penalty reminder notice was then sent out with further costs added taking it to $70. Those who haven’t paid the fines could then face legal action.