Tens of thousands of Tasmanians are expected to skip voting in the council elections, despite risking fines, and the state government still insists making it compulsory was a good idea.
The government introduced compulsory voting in council elections before the 2022 poll.
Asked whether forcing people to vote was democratic, Local Government Minister and former Sorell mayor Kerry Vincent said, "Compulsory voting in local government elections strengthens democracy and puts council elections in line with state and federal elections."
"Democracy works best when everyone has a say, not just those with the time, motivation or grievance."
Mr Vincent said compulsory voting made council decisions belong to the whole community.
"There is still a week until the polls close, and I encourage everyone who hasn't yet to return their ballot by post, by telephone or in-person at a council chamber," he said on October 21.
Former Legislative Council president and ex-Central Coast mayor Sue Smith strongly supports compulsory council voting.
"I have always argued local government is the third tier of government and local government is the one that affects the people the most in their everyday life," Mrs Smith said.
"I have always argued we are the most important tier of government in Australia."
She said councils belonged to the local community and people had a responsibility to vote.
"I fully support that it is compulsory because this is our closest level," Mrs Smith said.
Voting returns have shown signs of weakness so far, compared with 2022, despite the threat of fines for those who do not vote.
The Tasmanian Electoral Commission on October 20 said 47.9 per cent of postal votes had been returned.
The figure at the same point in 2022 was 50.9 per cent.
The commission estimates about 50,000 people will not vote.
That would be about 12 per cent of enrolled voters.
They will face fines of $42.60.
Electoral commissioner Andrew Hawkey said no penalties were issued in 2022 to people who did not vote.
"This year, the full failure-to-vote process will apply, including penalties where appropriate," Mr Hawkey said.
"Based on the last election, we expect to contact around 50,000 people who appear not to have voted.
"My message to voters is simple: make sure you're not among them."
The commission recommended that ballot papers only be returned in the mail up to October 21.
"From Thursday (October 22), completed votes should be returned directly to local council offices, where voters can also obtain supplementary ballot packs," the TEC said.
"These services will remain available until polling closes at 2pm on Tuesday, 27 October."
The rate of postal votes returned climbed to 60.88 per cent by the close of business on October 21.
There were big differences between areas.
The troubled Northern Midlands Council had the highest rate of ballot paper returns at that stage (67.30 per cent).
Break O'Day, Central Coast, Dorset, Glamorgan-Spring Bay, Latrobe, Meander Valley and Waratah-Wynyard were all past 65 per cent.
Two more troubled councils - the West Coast (52.28 per cent) and Hobart (53.86 per cent) - trailed the field.