13 September 2008

Returning Officers across the state will conduct a check count tomorrow, Sunday, 14 September, to confirm early results in the 2008 local council elections.

The count by local returning officers will confirm the first preference results for more than 300 individual elections in 148 council areas. This included 27 mayoral elections and elections in wards. The check count will include pre-poll and other declaration votes on ballot papers without above the line voting.

“The first results of the night were posted online at 6.20pm for a booth in the Bellingen Shire,” said NSW Electoral Commissioner Colin Barry.

“Every candidate’s first preference votes are counted on election night, with some strong trends emerging early.”

Mr Barry said the distribution of preferences could not begin until Tuesday, 16 September to allow for final postal votes to arrive.

Voting across the State was generally incident free with many electors heeding calls to vote in the afternoon to avoid an early morning rush.

“Over four million voters turned out at 2,200 polling places across the State. Many polling places reported large numbers with some people having to wait in line for a short time. This is normal given the large number of people on the electoral roll.

“Voters at two Blacktown booths were without ballot papers for approximately 10 minutes after supplies ran out. They were quickly replenished and voting returned to normal.”

Police were called to a minor incident at Auburn Girls High School after a campaign sign was thrown at an election official who asked volunteers for one candidate to stop blocking the entrance to the polling place. No one was hurt.

The Blackalls Park polling place at Lake Macquarie was put on alert by the NSW Fire Brigade after a grassfire developed nearby. However, voting was not disrupted.

A counting schedule has been posted on the NSW Electoral Commission website (www.elections.nsw.gov.au) indicating when preferences will be distributed for individual councils. The preferences distribution will take place at the Riverwood counting centre over the next fortnight and can be followed online.

Media Contact: Adrian Kerr, NSW Electoral Commission

(02) 9290 5954 adrian.kerr@elections.nsw.gov.au