ecsa.sa.gov.au Non-Voter Process : Electoral Commission South Australia

Organisation : Electoral Commission SA
Facility : Non-Voter Process
Country : South Australia
State : Adelaide

Non-Voter Process : http://www.ecsa.sa.gov.au/voting/failure-to-vote
Home Page : http://www.ecsa.sa.gov.au/

Failure to vote :
If you did not vote at a State election, or by-election, you must contact the Electoral Commission SA with your reason for not voting.

Either :
** complete the email form on the Contact us page and include your reason for not voting, or
** call us on 1300 655 232.

If you provide a valid and sufficient reason for not voting you will be excused and avoid a fine. If you do not contact the Electoral Commission SA you will be sent a notice requesting a reason for not voting.

Non-voter process :
If you do not provide a valid and sufficient reason for not voting, you will receive the following three notices in accordance with section 85 of the Electoral Act 1985 External link.

First Notice: Apparent Failure to Vote
This notice is sent within three months following the election or by-election. It gives you the opportunity to provide the reason for your apparent failure to vote. If your reason is accepted there is no further action.

Second Notice: Expiation Notice – $70 fine
This notice is sent if you do not respond to the first notice, or if the reason you provide for failing to vote is not regarded as valid. If you pay the fine or provide a valid reason for not voting, there will be no further action.

Third Notice: Expiation Reminder Notice – $121 fine
This notice is sent to you because you failed to respond to the previous two notices. If you pay the fine or provide a valid reason for not voting, there will be no further action.

Note: all fines and fees are current as of February 2015 and are subject to change. These fines incorporate a Victims of Crime Levy and other fees as per the Expiation of Offences Act 1996 External link.

Notice of Order of Enforcement :
After three notices have been issued, the Electoral Commission SA refers the matter to the Fines Enforcement and Recovery Unit,
if you :
** fail to pay the fine, or
** do not provide a valid reason for not voting.
The Fines Enforcement and Recovery Unit issues a Notice of Order of Enforcement, which carries significant penalties.

Fines Enforcement and Recovery Unit : (Attorney-General’s Department)
People now have more flexible options to pay their overdue fines, due to changes to the management of fines in South Australia. A new unit, the Fines Enforcement and Recovery Unit, has been established within the Attorney-General’s Department to recover overdue fine amounts owed to State and Local Government bodies. These functions moved from the Courts Administration Authority to the new Fines Unit on 3 February 2014.

What this means for fines owed in South Australia :
** It is now easier for people to manage overdue fines, with more options available.
** Overdue fines can be paid online and over the phone, and in person at any Australia Post Office or Service SA Customer Service Centre.
** People can apply for a Payment Arrangement to spread their payment over a longer period (even before a fine is sent to the Fines Unit for enforcement).
** For those who evade paying their fines, escalating enforcement measures will be applied to recover the amounts owed.
** These enforcements include suspending driver’s licences, clamping and impounding vehicles, seizing and selling assets, and making deductions directly from a person’s bank account or salary.