2 July 2008

Election equipment is being dispatched across New South Wales as the 2008 local council elections edge closer.

Contractors at the NSW Electoral Commission’s warehouse in Sydney’s west have spent the past two months assembling almost 100 pallets of electoral supplies to be sent to the local government returning officer. 

“The shipment includes all the polling place equipment, forms and furniture needed to run the council elections to the same high standard as a state or federal election,” said NSW Electoral Commissioner Colin Barry.

“With less than three months to go until polling day, we have to make sure the local returning officer is set up in time so all the groundwork can commence before the roll officially closes and nominations open on 4 August. In 2004 more than 5,000 candidates nominated for public office so we have a busy time ahead.”

Returning officers will take possession of their premises on 1 July and will spend the first few weeks unpacking the equipment and setting up their offices before opening the doors to the public on 28 July.

“They can then begin their important role of liaising with councils, accepting nominations, setting up pre-polling facilities and processing postal vote applications. Early voting is important as there is no absentee voting at council elections so people cannot vote outside their council or ward on the day.”

The shipment of goods includes 1.5 million envelopes, 430,000 labels, 133,000 electoral forms, 18,000 lanyards, 18,000 ballot pencils, 6,000 pencil sharpeners, 8,000 cardboard voting screens and 6,400 ballot boxes.

The NSWEC is still accepting expressions of interest from people wanting to work as an election official, in particular young people and those who speak a community language such as Mandarin, Cantonese, Arabic, Italian, Greek, Vietnamese, Spanish, Hindi, Korean, Tagalog and Macedonian. More information is available at www.elections.nsw.gov.au or by calling 1300 135 736.

More than 4.4 million voters will go to the polls in 149 council areas on 13 September.

Editors: High resolution photographs can be emailed for publication.

Media Contact:  Adrian Kerr, Corporate Communications
(02) 9290 5954  adrian.kerr@elections.nsw.gov.au