Forgetting to vote in local elections

[Silent Alarm]

I forgot to post my vote for the Melbourne Council elections. My postal vote was due yesterday... what is the best excuse to use?

• I was away in Perth for a while in late September, and my housemate forgot to give me some of my mail until today
• My girlfriend came by to collect my mail while I was away in late September. We had a falling out and only reconvened late this week, and only got my mail back on Friday. I forgot to post my vote as I had work and several final university assessments due that day
• I have never forgotten to post in any election before. However, this is my first time voting in local Melbourne elections, and I simply made an error, forgetting when the mail was to be sent. This is due to work and having my final fortnight of university assessments and deadlines.

How strict are they if I send it by Sunday? Do they give out the fines pretty quickly? Cheers.

 

[Messenger]

I'm in the same situation. I've backdated my declaration so I can shrug my shoulders and blame AusPost.

I wouldn't worry though, Silent Alarm. It would be a low security prison - more like a farm. We'll get to make number plates.

 

[Silent Alarm]

I'm in the same situation. I've backdated my declaration so I can shrug my shoulders and blame AusPost.

I wouldn't worry though, Silent Alarm. It would be a low security prison - more like a farm. We'll get to make number plates.

What declaration? You mean the actual reply-paid voting slip envelope, or the letter you sent to appeal it?

Surely they're fairly lenient with it if you actually do end up doing it. I got out of a few in WA when I was living over here. Never heard back at all, so I guess it was cool.

 

[BobbyMorri]

My mate forgot to vote in the legislative elections down here in Tassie about 6 months ago. he still hasnt got a letter from them.

but Tassie and Victoria have different electoral commissions for local elections so things may be different.

 

[Crankyhawk]

I forgot to post my vote for the Melbourne Council elections. My postal vote was due yesterday... what is the best excuse to use?

• I was away in Perth for a while in late September, and my housemate forgot to give me some of my mail until today
• My girlfriend came by to collect my mail while I was away in late September. We had a falling out and only reconvened late this week, and only got my mail back on Friday. I forgot to post my vote as I had work and several final university assessments due that day
• I have never forgotten to post in any election before. However, this is my first time voting in local Melbourne elections, and I simply made an error, forgetting when the mail was to be sent. This is due to work and having my final fortnight of university assessments and deadlines.

How strict are they if I send it by Sunday? Do they give out the fines pretty quickly? Cheers.

Just blame your local post office for never receiving the postal vote in the first place. Or tell them you posted it, not your fault it never got there.

 

[Bokonon_]

Just blame your local post office for never receiving the postal vote in the first place. Or tell them you posted it, not your fault it never got there.

That has to work. You have to get the benefit of the doubt.

 

[Silent Alarm]

Mine was posted a day after it was due and I just wrote on the 'sent in' part that I posted it the final day I was supposedly allowed to. I haven't heard anything and they obviously know where I live.

 

[GreyCrow]

Here in SA its not compulsory to vote in Council Elections. Yet checking I see it is in Victoria.

Weirdos

 

[stmookeyj]

We've been known to have sorted postal votes for all types of elections up to 2 weeks after it happened, so as long as you date the declaration of when you voted before the due date you should be OK. After all, we (Post) tend to stuff up every delivery......

 

[JoondalupJ]

I forgot to post my vote for the Melbourne Council elections. My postal vote was due yesterday... what is the best excuse to use?

• I was away in Perth for a while in late September, and my housemate forgot to give me some of my mail until today
• My girlfriend came by to collect my mail while I was away in late September. We had a falling out and only reconvened late this week, and only got my mail back on Friday. I forgot to post my vote as I had work and several final university assessments due that day
• I have never forgotten to post in any election before. However, this is my first time voting in local Melbourne elections, and I simply made an error, forgetting when the mail was to be sent. This is due to work and having my final fortnight of university assessments and deadlines.

How strict are they if I send it by Sunday? Do they give out the fines pretty quickly? Cheers.

As far as I know in WA local gov voting is NOT compulsory. But my son living in Melbourne didn't even know there was a local government election going on, and copped a big fine. I wonder if any excuse will work.

But when he told me , I was flabbergasted, I come from Melbourne, been away quite a while now, but I can never remember council elections being compulsory?

 

[Silent Alarm]

I never heard anything else about it. Posted it a few days after it was due. Guess they get so many a day or two late they don't care.

 

[Nugett]

I was fined last year for not voting in council elections last year here in Queensland.
I never knew that it was compulsory, nor did I know there was an election on. Unless it's federal it should not be compulsory imo. Not everyone watches the news or listens to the radio.

 

[mr bagcroft]

Here in SA its not compulsory to vote in Council Elections. Yet checking I see it is in Victoria.

Weirdos

Its weird as **** its compulsory!
Hence being apolitical, my recent votes have gone:

James Hetfield.
Roger Waters.
The blue Wiggle.

 

[Howard Littlejohn]

Here in SA its not compulsory to vote in Council Elections. Yet checking I see it is in Victoria.

Weirdos

I got done when I first moved to Victoria from Tassie , thinking they weren't compulsory. At that time I had not heard of compulsory council elections anywhere in Australia, but in Vic they were. They are in Tas now, and I think most states.

 

[Kram]

I wouldn't worry though, Silent Alarm. It would be a low security prison - more like a farm. We'll get to make number plates.

You know, minimum security prison is no picnic. I had a client in there once. He said the trick is kick someone's ass the first day, or become somebody's bitch. Then everything will be all right.

 

[Zeox7]

Just say you didn't vote because it violates your religious beliefs. If they still hassle you, then scream racism. That should do it.