What happens if you don't vote at an election?

Answer 1

If you are an Australian and you have registered to vote, in a few weeks' time you will get a letter from the Electoral Commission asking if you have a valid reason for not voting (e.g., sickness, etc).

If you don'thave a valid reason, or don't reply, you will receive a penalty notice, requiring you to pay a fine. The penalty notice has the same force in law as a traffic fine, so you must pay it or you will accrue extra penalties and may lose privileges such as your driver's licence (in NSW).

However, more important than all that ~ you will have lost your chance to have a say in our system of political management until the next election.

In future, if you don't think you can get to the polling booth on the day, why not lodge a postal vote! And if you are away from home, you can vote 'absentee'.

Do you have a real excuse ~ or just irresponsible? That's your right, of course, but if so, you'll have to pay the penalty!

Cheers :-)

Answer 2

If u havent registered and you are of voting age there could be an issue and to this if you have been placed on the electoral role and u didnt vote you will be fined! Voting is compulsory in Australia. Believe I know as I copped a fine last fed election as I was O/S. Below is a part of the FAQ's on the AEC webpage!

What happens if I do not vote?
Initially the Australian Electoral Commission will write to all apparent non-voters requesting that they either provide a reason for their failure to vote or pay a $20 penalty.

If, within 21 days, the apparent non-voter fails to reply, cannot provide a valid and sufficient reason or declines to pay the penalty, then prosecution proceedings may be instigated. If the matter is dealt with in court and the person is found guilty, he or she may be fined up to $50 plus court costs

Answer 3

Everyone who said that you lose your right to complain about the government if you don't vote is wrong in saying that. A person may have a legitimate reason for not voting, and no one loses their right to complain about anything because of not voting. The right to voice your political opinion or objection is an inalienable right of citizenship on democratic countries, regardless of whether you voted or not.

Answer 4

I know I'm no. 30 something, but this is very important. Originally, we the people, the highest office we voted for was State Representative. The Reps choose the two senators and the Senate choose the President and VP. If enough people don't turn out to vote, it will go back to this system.

Answer 5

With this atmosphere of win/lose people tend to vote for who they think will win rather than for who they think will be the better president because they don't what vote for a 'loser'. With that said, I believe that voting is an opinion and as such is neither right nor wrong. Therefore there are now losers. So the only person who truly loses is the one who doesn't vote.

Answer 6

In Australia, if you are 18+ and don't vote at an election. You will be fined and face jail time. By Australian law every Australian citizen over 18 or over must vote.

Answer 7

If you skip too many elections, they drop you from the voting rolls. Also, you don't have a right to complain about whoever gets elected.

Answer 8

In some countries you better void your vote, or else it could be used to corrupt the election.

These days with electronic voting and no way to trace back it really doesn't matter, if they want to rig an election they can easily do it.

Answer 9

nothing really happens, except for the fact that if you don't vote you can't rightfully complain if the government does something you don't like. and if you're an aussie, you get fined $20 unless you have a valid excuse.

Answer 10

Nothing physically happens to you.

However, mentally something does.

Everyone on this Earth is made with an opinion.

Why not express your opinion and vote for something you believe in!!!

And for Christ's sake, don't vote for Hilary!!! =)