Springy, getting a Please Explain for not voting is not as dramatic as you seem to think.
In NSW the form has 3 options.....you can give up and pay the fine, or you can give them the details of where and approximately what time you did vote or third option is if you did not vote but have a reason.
I took the last option just last week as I did not vote in the local council elections. For many years I have done postal voting and this year my forms did not arrive until the Monday after the elections. On the day my knees were so bad that there was no way I could even walk to the front gate, let alone into the voting place.
If they accept my reason all well and good....if not then I will have to fork over $55.
The same reason got me out of Jury Duty a few months ago and without a doctors certificate.
I have usually found that when it comes to a "he said, I said" situation if you present a solid well reasoned argument with as much proof as possible....and without being too antagonistic....you will often win your case.
