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🇦🇺 Australia /Elections & Politics

South Australian voters surprised by failure-to-vote notices despite casting ballots

From ABC Australia · () English

Translated from English, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Sources not specified Outcome reported
  • Many South Australian voters who cast early ballots were surprised to receive fines for not voting.
  • The Electoral Commission of South Australia (ECSA) issued infringement notices to residents despite their confirmed early voting.
  • The issue follows a series of problems during the state's recent elections, leading to the resignation of the Electoral Commissioner.

Residents in South Australia who voted early in the recent state election have been shocked to receive official notices claiming they failed to vote, with some facing fines. Marley Howe, a voter from the Riverland region, expressed his disbelief after receiving an infringement notice from the Electoral Commission of South Australia (ECSA) despite having voted at an early polling booth.

I was quite surprised to be honest. I was like 'well, that doesn't sound very right to me. I know for sure that I voted,'

— Marley HoweA voter expressing surprise after receiving a failure-to-vote notice despite having voted early.

"I was quite surprised to be honest. I was like 'well, that doesn't sound very right to me. I know for sure that I voted,'" Howe told ABC Riverland. He noted that he received a QR code by post to use at the pre-polling booth, which he believes should have registered his vote.

I don't think that worked. If it did work I shouldn't have got mail from the electoral commission saying I haven't voted.

— Marley HoweQuestioning the effectiveness of the QR code system used for early voting.

Howe is not alone, with reports of at least four other Riverland residents receiving similar notices. This situation has emerged in the same week that SA's Electoral Commissioner, Mick Sherry, resigned amid a review into the conduct of the state and Voice elections. "This election was very disorganised, in all honesty. It's not entirely surprising that they've had some errors throughout this election," Howe commented, adding that many others are in the same predicament.

This election was very disorganised, in all honesty. It's not entirely surprising that they've had some errors throughout this election.

— Marley HoweCommenting on the general disorganization of the recent state election.

South Australia's March elections were marred by various issues, including misplaced ballots, insufficient polling staff, and computer malfunctions. Former federal electoral commissioner Tom Rogers is leading an independent review into the management of the state and First Nations Voice elections. Premier Peter Malinauskas acknowledged "some serious questions" for the Electoral Commission and welcomed the commissioner's resignation, stating it was the "right thing to do."

I've heard a lot of other people currently in the same boat as me, basically [receiving letters] saying they hadn't voted when they did.

— Marley HoweHighlighting that other voters are experiencing the same issue.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by ABC Australia in English. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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