Herald Sun
VICTORIAN councils are expected to reap millions of dollars from voters who fail to vote in next week's local elections.
Melbourne City Council voters have until 6pm on Friday to get their ballots to their returning officer, or they face a $57 fine.
Non-resident voters and voters older than 70 are not obliged to vote at council elections.
But if the Victorian Electoral Commission fines only 10 per cent of non-voters, councils could reap a revenue windfall of more than $2 million in fines. And some predict the sum may be higher.
On Friday evening, only 24 per cent of the ballot papers had been returned in the Melbourne Council election.
"We would normally expect about half the votes to in by now," Lord Mayoral candidate Peter McMullin said.
The VEC said yesterday it would not fine people whose ballot papers arrived on the Monday after the election, but their votes would not be counted.
1 comment:
Given that election is slated for Saturday November 29. Would it not be more realistic that the closing date for receiving votes is on the monday after the elections date not the Friday before? Will the VEC be providing statistics on the number of ballot papers received after the close of voting? If the election results are close could there be a challenge made against Australia Post who may have inadventantly delayed the dispatch and deliver of the vote?
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