Leniency sought for non-voters

A call to waive fines for Narracan voters that failed to vote in the state election has been made by Member for Narracan Wayne Farnham.
Mr Farnham said he'd written to the Victorian Electoral Commission following the high number of infringement notices issued fir the failed November election and supplementary election in January.
The Narracan poll was deferred following the death of The Nationals candidate Shaun Gilchrist a week before polling day.
Mr Farnham said the process of the failed election, together with the timing of the supplementary election in January, led to many residents inadvertently failing to vote.
Infringement notices and fines have been issued to 2800 people for failing to vote, primarily for the upper house Eastern Victoria region where voting was not deferred.
Mr Farnham said he previously told the VEC there was confusion in the community and common sense should be applied.
He said the complexities around the Narracan supplementary election should allow for greater leniency and compassion in assessing reasons for failing to vote.
Many households are doing it tough due to the rising cost of living and a fine for failing to vote is the last thing they need, he said.