ALMOST 1000 Bendigo residents have received apparent failure to vote notices in error.
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But the Victorian Electoral Commission says all of their votes counted and blamed the letters on a barcode scanning error.
The Bendigo Advertiser has been contacted by residents concerned their votes in the October council elections had not counted.
But VEC acting electoral commissioner Liz Williams said the 950 affected voters could be confident their votes had been included in the result.
“These returned envelopes were received, but the envelope barcode was not correctly scanned as having been returned,” she said.
She said the error was recognised after voters contacted the VEC and said the mistake was largely confined to the Lockwood Ward.
“Voters within Lockwood Ward who returned their vote by the close of voting are advised to provide this explanation in their responses,” she said.
“We apologise for any unnecessary concern the notice has caused.”
City of Greater Bendigo chief executive Craig Niemann last week told the Bendigo Advertiser he was confident the right candidates had been elected and said it was positive the VEC had confirmed that.
“It’s good that the votes were counted,” he said. “Clearly there’s been an error made and the VEC has admitted to that.
“They’ve made an assurance those votes were counted ... that was the main reason people were concerned.
“Unfortunately 950 people received letters that weren’t right and that’s something we’re going to have to take up with the VEC as a contractor.”
Mr Niemann said the council had been in contact with the VEC since the issued came to its attention.
“The community needs to have confidence in the post ballot system,” he said.
“Hopefully they’ve realised the issue and can rectify it.”
Mr Niemann said the council elections went to contract each time they were held but said there were few choices.
“There aren’t too many providers; the VEC and Australian Electoral Commission, effectively,” he said.
“We’d normally have a review of the contract once it’s complete so we’ll take it up at an appropriate time.
“They’re certainly aware that we’ve had some concerns about those letters going out.”
The next council elections will be held in 2016.