A Victorian Electoral Commission investigation has found the incorrect scanning of voting envelope barcodes caused 950 Bendigo council election voters to be sent 'apparent failure to vote' notices in error.
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Acting electoral commissioner Liz Williams said the 950 Greater Bendigo voters identified who had received an ‘apparent failure to vote’ notice in error could be confident their votes were counted.
“These returned envelopes were received, but the envelope barcode was not correctly scanned as having been returned,” she said.
''Once affected voters made contact, the origin of the error was able to be identified.''
Ms Williams said the error was largely confined to Lockwood Ward and only affected the City of Greater Bendigo.
''Voters within Lockwood Ward who returned their vote by the close of voting are advised to provide this explanation in their responses . We apologise for any unnecessary concern the notice has caused,” she said.
Ms Williams said all votes received by the close of voting had been counted.
She said anyone with a question about their apparent failure to vote notice should call the VEC hotline on 1300 551 575.
