Hundreds of Canberrans have been convicted and fined for failing to vote in last year's ACT election.

The Electoral Commission summonsed about 480 people who did not cast a vote on October 18, 2008.

Around 170 charges were withdrawn.

But over the last fortnight, nearly 300 people have been convicted and fined $50. None of them provided an explanation.

Another seven people have been fined $10 plus court costs of about $60.

Some of the people told the ACT Magistrates Court they had been sick on election day or simply forgot.

Chief Magistrate Ron Cahill noted that most of the people charged appeared to be Australian born.

He said it showed that people who came to the ACT from overseas valued their democratic duty more than others.

Chief Magistrate Cahill said it is important that Canberrans vote and the court process is an example of democracy in action.

He said if people cannot vote on election day, they should let the Electoral Commission know.