Fines totalling more than $1 million have been issued to 13,875 registered voters in Hobsons Bay and Maribyrnong alleged to have failed to vote in last year’s council elections.
The Victorian Electoral Commission (VEC) has issued 7972 infringement notices to voters in Maribyrnong and 5903 in Hobsons Bay.
Seabrook resident Antoinette Gerada said she received a $78 fine, despite posting her vote before the due date at Point Cook town centre.
“I was utterly shocked,” she said. “I heard on 3AW that hundreds of people who had voted, like myself, received fines and were blaming Australia Post.
“However, I posted mine together with my two adult sons at the same time … I have spoken with the VEC and have applied for an internal review.”
West Footscray resident Rachel Allan said she and her husband sent off their postal votes together.
“He then received a letter asking why he didn’t vote – I didn’t get a letter, so obviously mine went through,” she said.
“He noted on this letter that he did vote, and we have now received an infringement notice.”
Other residents have complained of being fined despite voting, and of not receiving failure to vote notices allowing them to explain that they had voted.
An Australia Post spokesman said “all ballot papers were delivered as addressed and according to our delivery timetables”, while VEC spokesman Lawson Fletcher said many votes were invalid because they were dated or mailed after October 21, a requirement he said was “clearly detailed in voting material.”
