Oh dear. Some Crikey readers are
teasing the Australian Electoral Commission over our report earlier
this week about just how many – or few – of the malefactors who didn’t
vote in the federal election last October are being pursued.

They
can still expect a knock on the door, the Commission’s acting director
of Media and Communications Roger Wills says. At least that’s what we
think he’s saying (cutting through the semi-literate corporate speak),
going by an email to a Crikey subscriber that’s been passed on. Perhaps
it’s only because Wills is an acting director that he doesn’t realise
that “Good afternoon” is not an acknowledged opening in written
correspondence:

Good afternoon,

Thank you for your email.

The comment regarding the lack of enforcement by the AEC is not correct.

It
is a multi-staged process to investigate instances of apparent
non-voting. The AEC has issued in excess of 450,000 non-voter penalty
notices from which various responses are received, for example
providing a valid and sufficient reason such as being overseas at the
time or paying the fine.

Depending on responses or otherwise to
the non-voter penalty notices and the particular circumstances of each
would depend on whether the final stage of non-voter follow up would
occur. It should be noted that the AEC has until 8 October (12 months
following polling day) to issue proceedings for court action.

Regards

Roger Wills
————————————————-
Roger Wills
Acting Director
Media & Communication Section
Australian Electoral Commission