Try the new Google Books
Check out the new look and enjoy easier access to your favorite features
The focus at election time is often on the cost of the campaigns but how much does it actually cost to run a democratic election?
The Money explains how the Australian economy and everything in it works, and how it connects to the global economy.
Around 17 million Australians are enrolled to vote on May 21, and it's up to the Australian Electoral Commission (AEC) to give everyone across the country the opportunity to cast their ballot.
And the cost of that mammoth exercise isn't cheap.
AEC's spokesperson, Evan Ekin-Smyth told ABC RN's The Money that the 2022 federal election will cost taxpayers "somewhere around that magic half a billion dollar mark".
That's considerably more than the 2019 election that came in at $372 million.
Why does it cost so much?
Mr Ekin-Smyth puts the additional cost down to hosting a federal election during a pandemic, along with the impacts of recent flooding events in NSW and Queensland.
More than 73,000 litres of hand sanitiser, 150,000 voting screens and 10,000 recycling bins are just a few of the essential supplies that have been procured for this year's election.
Yet it is the cost of employees that Mr Ekin-Smyth says are the greatest expense.
At the last federal election, around a third of the $372 million went on wages for 130,000 people.
Given the scale of this recruitment, the federal election is considered one of the country's biggest temporary hires. The labour constitutes one of "Australia's biggest workforces, albeit for a very short period of time."
"It shows you just how many people go into … making a federal election tick," Mr Ekin-Smyth says.
Reimbursement for signs and how-to-vote cards
There's another major yet little known election cost.
According to the AEC website, "after each federal election or by-election, the AEC distributes money to eligible political parties, candidates and Senate groups to reimburse them for electoral expenditure".
Mr Ekin-Smyth explains that to be eligible to receive "election funding", political parties or candidates need to have received at least four per cent of first preference votes.
One of the biggest logistical challenges and expenses is providing voting facilities throughout remote and regional Australia.(ABC Rural: Caddie Brain)In the past, they were entitled to a flat rate.
But Mr Ekin-Smyth says it's become a system of reimbursement more recently.
"People have to prove that they've spent that amount on electoral expenditure [such as on] signs and how-to-vote cards," he says.
Currently for eligible political parties and candidates, they are entitled to $2.91 for every primary vote they receive, plus an automatic payment of $10,656.
"Not many people are super aware of it but we do make that payment," Mr Ekin-Smyth says.
"It's all on our transparency register on our website after the election as well."
The funding reimbursement to parties and candidates after the 2019 election accounted for $70 million, all paid for by the taxpayer.
'Very difficult planning exercise'
The unofficial election campaign ran for months before Prime Minister Scott Morrison announced the official election date.
Anthony Albanese and Scott Morrison shake hands at the first leaders debate of the 2022 federal election campaign.(AAP: Tony Zerna)So does the length of the official campaign period affect the overall cost of conducting the election?
According to Mr Ekin-Smyth, "it doesn't have too much of an impact".
Instead the real logistical difficulty comes when the AEC needs "to be ready to go" whenever the federal election is called.
For this election, that could have been as early as August 2021.
"So we've got to make rolling decisions about what venues we bring on board and what materials we get ready," he says. "There's not enough paper to run a federal election if we haven't got it ready."
Not dissimilar to political analysts, the AEC closely monitors the political landscape for indications of a potential election date so they can make decisions accordingly.
"That will cost money and so those sorts of expenses do add up," Mr Ekin-Smyth says.
"So it's a very, very difficult planning exercise, that's for sure."
When do you start planning for the next one?
So come May 22, 2022, as Australians come to terms with the election outcome, what's next for the AEC?
"It's the typical barbecue question ... 'When do you start planning for the next one?'" says Mr Ekin-Smyth.
His response is usually blunt: "It's the day after."
The AEC starts looking ahead to the next election immediately, from maintaining the electoral roll, redrawing boundaries in particular states and territories, and planning for any potential by-elections.
"It is an immense task to make sure that we have all the contracts in place, all the services ready to roll out, the people on a register ready to go," he says.
"So it's a long lead time planning and we've got to make sure we're ready to go on any given date."
What do you want to know about the federal election?
This article contains content that is only available in the web version.
This article contains content that is only available in the web version.
Voting is compulsory and you may be fined for not voting in a state election or by-election.
If you did not vote at an election, you must contact the Electoral Commission SA with a valid and sufficient reason.
You can provide your reason by:
- completing the enquiry form with your reason for not voting
- calling us on 1300 655 232
- emailing us at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
If you provide a valid and sufficient reason you will be excused and avoid a fine.
-
- FAQs - failure to vote
- How to pay your fine
Non-voter process
If you do not provide a valid and sufficient reason, you will receive the following 3 notices in accordance with section 85 of the Electoral Act 1985. The final stage is to refer the matter to the Fines Enforcement and Recovery Unit.
Apparent failure to vote notice (First notice)
This notice is sent within 3 months following the election. It gives you the opportunity to explain why you didn’t vote. It is a legal requirement that you respond to this notice. Penalties may apply for non-compliance.
If your reason is accepted there is no further action.
You have 21 days to respond to this notice.
Expiation notice $102 (Second notice)
You will receive an expiation notice if you do not respond to the apparent failure to vote notice, or if you don’t provide a valid and sufficient reason for not voting.
The expiation amount is made up of a $10 expiation fee for the offence, and $92 Victims of Crime Levy.
If you pay the fine or provide a valid reason for not voting, there will be no further action. It is a legal requirement that you respond to this notice. Penalties may apply for non-compliance.
Expiation reminder notice $169 (Third notice)
A reminder notice is issued if you fail to respond to the previous 2 notices. You will be required to pay the original fine plus a fee of $67.
If you pay the fine or provide a valid reason for not voting, there will be no further action. It is a legal requirement that you respond to this notice. Penalties may apply for non-compliance.
Note: all fines and fees are subject to change. These fines incorporate a victims of crime levy and other fees as per the Expiation of Offences Act 1996.
Notice of Order of Enforcement
After 3 notices have been issued, the Electoral Commission SA refers the matter to the Fines Enforcement and Recovery Unit, if you:
- fail to pay the fine, or
- do not provide a valid reason for not voting.
The Fines Enforcement and Recovery Unit issues a notice of order of enforcement, which carries significant financial penalties in addition to the current penalties.
How to pay your fine
There are a few ways you can pay your fine prior to enforcement, these include:
You will need your expiation notice as it contains an identification number specific to you.
If you have misplaced your expiation notice you must contact the Electoral Commission SA.
Address: Level 6, 60 Light Square, Adelaide SA 5000 (Find us on the map using this link)
Postal: Electoral Commission SA, GPO Box 646, Adelaide SA 5001
Fines Enforcement and Recovery Unit
Once your fine is enforced (overdue) you must contact the Fines Enforcement and Recovery Unit as the Electoral Commission SA can no longer accept payments.
How to pay your overdue fine
The Fines Enforcement and Recovery Unit has flexible options to pay your fine.
Overdue fines can be paid:
- online
- via telephone
- in person at any Australia Post office or Service SA Customer Service Centre.
You can also apply for a payment arrangement to spread your payment over a longer period.
For those who evade paying a fine, escalating enforcement measures will be applied to recover the amount owed. These enforcements include:
- suspension of your driver’s license
- deductions directly from your salary or bank account
- clamping and impounding vehicles
- seizing and selling assets
Contact the Fines Enforcement and Recovery Unit on 1800 659 538 or visit Fines SA.