More than 1 million people are handed fines after breaking Australian election rules

By NICHOLAS COMINO, POLITICAL REPORTER, AUSTRALIA Published: 03:43, 30 July 2026 | Updated: 03:54, 30 July 2026 More than 1.3 million Australians have been fined for failing to vote in last year's federal election. Australia is one of only a handful of countries with compulsory voting, requiring all enrolled adults to cast a ballot in federal and state elections under a system enforced by the Australian Electoral Commission.  Those who fail to vote without a valid reason are issued a $20 administrative penalty, which can increase to $330 if the matter proceeds to court.  More than 207,000 people had paid the penalty by May, collectively handing over $4.15 million. Meanwhile, the AEC waived penalties for more than 250,000 people by June after accepting they had a 'valid and sufficient' reason for not voting. But more than 710,000 Australians ignored an AEC notice asking them to explain why they failed to cast a ballot. 'A failure to respond can of course occur by choice, due to a recent residential move or due to other practical reasons,' the AEC said in a statement. The electoral watchdog warned that people who cannot provide a valid reason for failing to vote may face further action. More than 1.3 million Australians have been fined for failing to vote in last year's federal election which Anthony Albanese (pictured) won  Money from the fines will be used to fund government spending  'Like all legal matters, we weigh up a number of factors before commencing any action.' Whether an excuse is accepted is determined by the AEC's Divisional Returning Officer for each electorate, who assesses each case on its individual merits.  The officer considers the voter's explanation, along with any relevant circumstances affecting polling places in that electorate, before deciding whether the reason is 'valid and sufficient'. The fines are not kept by the AEC, with all penalty payments instead going into the federal government's consolidated revenue fund.  Money in the CRF is then used to help fund government spending.