Recently, the TEC conducted two compulsory elections –
Have you received a yellow or purple-coloured letter from the TEC asking why you didn't vote?
Please turn the letter over and choose the relevant option, sign and post the letter back, or pay the fine as indicated.
A. Turn the letter over, provide the reason for their failure to vote, sign it on the elector's behalf and return it in the reply paid envelope enclosed.
A. The roll for the Pembroke by-election closed at 6pm Wednesday 3 August 2022, one month prior to the election. At that point in time you were enrolled in the division of Pembroke and were required to vote.
If you weren't living in Pembroke at that time, complete and return the form with that information.
You can head over to the Australian Electoral Commission (AEC) website to check or update your enrolment.
A. Allow for up to a week after the email for the letter to arrive. If you still haven't received it by then, please call the TEC on 1800 801 701 so we can check that your enrolment postal address is up-to-date.
A. Contact the TEC on 1800 801 701 - our staff will be happy to help.
On Wednesday 14 December 2022, the TEC lodged letters in the mail to electors who appeared to have failed to vote. This letter is white in colour. You may also have received an email alert prior to receiving the letter.
On this occassion, the Commissioner has resolved that no penalties will be issued for not voting at the 2022 local government postal elections. The letter is for your information, and no action is required.
If your letter is yellow or purple in colour, it is in relation to a separate, earlier Parliamentary election. Further details for the Pembroke by-election above.
A. Following amendments to legislation in June 2022, voting at Tasmanian local government elections became compulsory. Our records indicate you appear to have not voted in your local council elections.
A. You do not need to take any specific action as the Commissioner has resolved that no penalties will be issued for not voting at the 2022 local government elections.
A. The rolls for the 2022 local government postal elections closed at 6pm Thursday 8 September 2022, one month prior to the elections. At that point in time you were enrolled in the local government area and were required to vote.
You can head over to the Australian Electoral Commission (AEC) website to check or update your enrolment.
A. Allow for up to a week after the email for the letter to arrive. If you still haven't received it by then, please call the TEC on 1800 801 701 so we can check that your enrolment postal address is up-to-date.
Do you believe you have a valid and sufficient reason for not voting?
YesIf you believe you have a valid and sufficient reason for failing to vote, you can call the TEC on 1800 801 701
NoIf you did not have a valid and sufficient reason for failing to vote, you will have to pay the penalty on the infringement notice to the Monetary Penalties Enforcement Service (MPES).
Check your Enrolment
In many cases people do not receive letters we send them because their electoral enrolment is not up to date.
You can check your current enrolment and, if you need to, update your enrolment via the Australian Electoral Commission website.
Register for our Vote Alert Reminder
You can register for a reminder to vote at future elections by:
It is an offence to fail to vote at a Tasmanian parliamentary election without a valid and sufficient reason. The TEC sends 2 letters to the last known postal address of a person who has not voted. Most people who receive an infringement notice from MPES for failing to vote have not answered either of those letters.
Less commonly an infringement notice will be issued because the reason given for failing to vote was determined not to be valid and sufficient and the penalty has not been paid.