Australian Woman's Driver's Licence at Risk Over Unpaid Voting Penalty

A Queensland woman's driver's licence is on the line for not voting. The penalty has increased due to late payment, sparking debate on social media.

, and Administrator

2025 October 28 . 7:17 AM

1 min read

As we can see in the image, there is a woman wearing bag and on road there is a car.

Australian Woman's Driver's Licence at Risk Over Unpaid Voting Penalty

An Australian woman in Queensland faces potential driver's licence suspension after failing to pay a penalty for not voting in a local government election. The penalty, initially $166.90, has increased due to late payment, with additional fees added by the State Penalties Enforcement Registry (SPER). The woman, who has not been identified, received a notice from SPER stating she owed $241.85. This amount includes the original penalty and an additional $80.85 registration fee. If the fine remains unpaid, SPER can suspend her driver's licence, garnish her wages, or directly deduct funds from her bank account. Social media commenters have been divided over the issue. Some argue that the penalty is a fair consequence of not voting, while others find it unfair, especially considering the increased amount due to late payment. The woman has until October 16 to pay the $241.85 penalty. Failure to do so may result in her driver's licence being suspended. The penalty for not voting in Queensland elections is $166.90, which can be halved if paid by the due date.