22 August 2008

In a first for local council elections, the NSW Electoral Commission (NSWEC) will offer mobile pre-poll voting to electors at eight remote locations across the State.

The NSWEC has engaged the services of experienced local returning officers to conduct early voting in the far west and northern NSW from 1 September.
 
“This is the first time a mobile service has been offered at council elections and is part of our approach to conduct these elections to the same high standard as a state or federal poll,” said NSW Electoral Commissioner Colin Barry.

“These are isolated rural communities where it’s often difficult to get to a polling place or lodge a postal vote. Some people would otherwise have to drive hundreds of kilometres just to cast a vote.

“However, we have found in the past that some postal votes have been delayed because of irregular mail services which means some people may miss out on getting their postal vote back to us on time.”

The eight mobile pre-poll locations are:

• Hatfield (Balranald Shire)
• Emmdale (Central Darling Shire)
• Maude (Hay Shire)
• Booligal (Hay Shire)
• Fords Bridge (Bourke Shire)
• Bellata, Pilliga and Gwabegar (Narrabri Shire)

“We offered mobile pre-poll voting to all councils in remote parts of NSW but only Narrabri Shire wrote back to us and nominated townships. We decided to press ahead with the other six locations regardless.

“Voting at local government elections is compulsory and there is no absentee voting which means you have to vote in the council or ward in which you are enrolled,” Mr Barry said.

Mobile pre-poll voting will take place between 1 September – 12 September and arrangements will be advertised in local newspapers. Other pre-poll centres will operate at fixed locations around the State.  For details visit www.elections.nsw.gov.au

Media Contact:  Adrian Kerr, NSW Electoral Commission
(02) 9290 5954  adrian.kerr@elections.nsw.gov.au