24 September

Pre-poll and postal voting has opened in the State seat of Port Macquarie to assist electors  who are unable to vote in the local by-election on Saturday 18 October.

“There are currently 48,153 people on the electoral roll for the Port Macquarie District and voting is compulsory,” said NSW Electoral Commissioner Colin Barry.

Electors who cannot get to a polling place on Election Day, including anyone who will be interstate or overseas, have these early voting options available to them”

Pre-poll and postal voting is available at:

Port Macquarie

NSWEC Returning Office
Suite 4, 133-137 Gordon Street, Port Macquarie
Monday 22 September – Friday 17 October 9am to 6pm
Saturday 11 October 2008, 9am to 1pm

Laurieton Pre-poll Centre
Shop 1, 4 Kew Road, Laurieton
Monday 13 October – Friday 17 October 9am to 5pm

Harrington Pre-poll Centre
Harrington Post Office Gift Shop
4 Pilot Street, Harrington
Monday 13 October – Friday 17 October 9am to 5pm

Mr Barry said voters could also cast their ballot at the NSW Electoral Commission in Sydney as an absentee voter :

New South Wales Electoral Commission
Level 25, 201 Kent St, Sydney
Monday 29 September – Friday 17 October 9am to 5pm

Electors can lodge a postal vote application with the local Returning Officer by Monday, 13 October 2008 if they are overseas or Wednesday, 15 October 2008 if in Australia.

For more information on postal and pre-poll voting, and to obtain a postal vote application form visit www.elections.nsw.gov.au or call 1300 135 736. Postal vote application forms are also available from any Australia Post office.

END

Media Contact: Richard Carroll NSW Electoral Commission

(02) 9290 5936    richard.carroll@elections.nsw.gov.au