IF THE electoral authorities are diligent about collecting the fines possibly incurred by the 40,000 people who did not vote in Saturday's South Sydney and Randwick council elections, the booty will go some way to covering the cost of the elections.
Anecdotal evidence suggests that in the past there has been a reluctance to fine non-voters.
When the numbers of non-voters is low it does not make sense, it is sometimes argued, to spend a significant amount of money chasing them for payments. But the 52 per cent turn-out on Saturday in the South Sydney Council elections makes a mockery of the compulsory voting system. Last September, in the statewide council elections, there was an 83 per cent turnout. If the compulsory voting system is to be maintained, then, the non-voters should be made to pay the fines. The excuse will be offered that the South Sydney and Randwick council elections were out of season.