Will the local Council elections proceed?

With six weeks to go and with lockdowns in six LGA's and rising it will be interesting to see if the Minister for Local Government, Shelly Handcock will move to defer the elections once again. In a move to ensure the elections proceed the NSW Government has put in place a few regulation changes All residents who are enrolled to vote will be able to pre-poll vote from August 23. Online voting, or iVote, will be rolled out for the first time in council election to vulnerable voters, including those who have a disability. Any voter who “reasonably believes that attending a polling place on election day will pose a risk to the health or safety of the person, or of another person, because of the COVID-19 pandemic” will also be eligible to cast their vote by post. Regulations have been adapted to expand the eligibility criteria for postal voting to include permanent or temporary residents of nursing homes, retirement homes and hospitals, and those who are self-isolating due to COVID-19 Shadow Minister for Local Government, Greg Warren, has called on the Minister for Local Government, Shelley Hancock, to urgently outline plans for voting at the upcoming local government elections, due to be held on September 4.

Mr Warren said given the current concerns with COVID-19, all voters regardless of reasoning or location, should have access to alternative means of voting.

“People shouldn’t be pressured about their reasons for wanting to cast a vote via alternative means,” Mr Warren said.

“Fear levels should not be used a means test to decide whether you are eligible for postal or online voting.”

Mr Warren also called on the Minister to guarantee the iVote system would not compromised and ensure the integrity of the process given previous concerns with the system.

“There has been plenty of time for this government to develop and test measures to ensure local government elections can go off without a hitch in September,” he said.

Mr Warren urged the Minister to consider further alternatives to ensure voters could safely cast their vote at the ballot box, including: extending the number of days pre-polling was open and exploring a ‘book in advance method’.

“Opening polling booths for longer or allowing people to register a time to vote in advance could ensure people are able to cast their vote at a ballot box while limiting the number of people gathering at polling booths at the one time,” he said.

“There may be an extra cost involved but surely this government now knows it can’t put a price on the health and wellbeing of NSW residents.

“The Minister has less than six weeks to develop alternatives to make sure local government elections can proceed as planned and safely.” There are 128 local government councils in NSW. Each council represents a local government area. 125 councils, including Eurobodalla and Bega will be holding elections on Saturday, 4 September 2021 for the election of councillors. Eurobodalla council will also be holding mayoral elections.

Voting is compulsory at all NSW local government elections except for council polls.

Councils have engaged the NSW Electoral Commissioner to administer elections on Saturday, 4 September 2021. Who is running? At 12 noon on August 4th there will be a close of nominations and close of registration of candidates and groups. After that we will know more of who is standing. What we do know at the moment are that the following groups have advised they are standing: A Better Council Tubby Harrison, Gary Smith, Jackilyn Rosevear and John Gillet.

Advance Eurobodalla Mat Hatcher, Amber Schutz, Laurence Babington, Natasha Coxon, Sandra Meek, Georgie Rowley, Charles Stuart

The Eurobodalla Greens: Alice Worthington, Nadine Hills, Kylie Ryde and Charlie Bell

Eurobodalla Labor for Council Jack Egan, Maureen Searson, Matt Findlay, David Grace, Claire McAsh, Deirdre Russack,

The Mayne Team:

Michelle Hamrosi, Anthony Mayne, Karyn Starmer and Trevor Moore.

Below are the key election-related dates taken from the NSW Electoral Commission’s website: 23 August 2021: Pre-poll voting period opens 3 September 2021: Close of pre-poll voting period 4 September 2021: Election day (8am–6pm) 17 September 2021: Return of completed postal vote certificates (6pm) 20–22 September 2021: Conduct of distribution of preferences 21–23 September 2021: Declaration of results