Thousands at risk of fine due to ‘forgotten’ by-election this weekend

Some voters seem to have forgotten about this weekend's Cook by-election, with the Australian Electoral Commission saying it is concerned about the potential for a low turnout and issuing a gentle reminder that voters who don't cast a ballot will face a fine.

The vote to decide who takes former prime minister Scott Morrison's southern Sydney seat will be held on Saturday, but the AEC says low early and postal ballot numbers have it worried about low participation.

"While by-elections traditionally have lower turnout than a full federal election, it's still below expectations, and just as important to have your say," Electoral Commissioner Tom Rogers said.

"The early voting numbers we're seeing are down by approximately 11.2 per cent based on the same period in the 2022 federal election and nearly 13 per cent for the same period in the 2023 referendum in the division.

"Postal vote applications closed yesterday, and those numbers are down slightly as well.

"While it may be that more people vote on by-election day this time around, typically if someone casts their vote early in one election, they'll do so in the next one – this is why the numbers we're seeing makes us worry about low participation."

As of yesterday, just under 18,500 residents in the southern Sydney seat had cast an early vote – down on numbers from the same time in both the last federal election (20,769) and the Voice to parliament referendum (21,143).

Just under 112,000 people are enrolled to vote in Cook.

The AEC has indicated low levels of political campaigning and media coverage could be behind the low levels of early voting.

"We've sent every Cook household an official guide, we're advertising, we're sending text messages and emails, we're also on social media regularly and in discussion with media representatives," Rogers said.

"While it is more communication for a single by-election than we've ever done, ultimately we know that political campaigning activities and media coverage are always key vehicles for awareness and motivation."

"Failure to vote may result in a fine and will mean you have no say on who represents you in parliament."

Unlike the recent by-elections in the Melbourne seats of Aston and Dunkley, Cook is shaping up as something of a political no-contest.

A safe Liberal seat, it's been held by the party since the 1970s. While the Liberals selected management consultant Simon Kennedy to run for Cook, Labor decided against putting up a candidate in the by-election altogether.

Early voting centres are open until 6pm on Friday, and polling places will be open between 8am and 6pm on Saturday.

You can find where to vote in the Cook by-election on the AEC website.