The September 4 in-person local government elections will be going ahead despite worsening NSW COVID-19 numbers, with the government expanding the eligibility of postal voting to include residents of nursing homes, retirement homes and hospitals, and those who are self-isolating due to COVID-19.
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Having postponed the elections last year, the state government amended voting regulations on Friday, July 9 to also expand eligibility of postal voting to anybody 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".
Online voting via iVote will also be rolled out for the first time during a local government election but only vulnerable voters and those with disabilities will be eligible.
Not all are satisfied with the plans with Shadow Minister for Local Government, Greg Warren urging Minister for Local Government, Shelley Hancock to give all voters, regardless of reasoning or location, 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 as a means to test or decide whether you are eligible for postal or online voting."
Shoalhaven Independents Councillor Greg Watson said the whole system should have been overhauled to follow Victoria's system which allows for postal elections.
"It means people don't have to go and face the gauntlet of fronting up the polling booths and queuing," he said.
"Minister for Local Government Shelley Hancock tried to get that through but couldn't get it through cabinet because some of her colleagues wanted to maintain the traditional idea of standing at polling booths.
"I think the current situation would demonstrate that the minister was right and it should have gone to a full postal vote but it's too late now to try and change it."
Local Government NSW President Linda Scott who is also a Labor councillor for the City of Sydney said she was confident the safety of voters could be met without adversely affecting fair and transparent elections.
"Council elections are a celebration of democracy at a grassroots level and I am pleased the new electoral provisions released by the State Government this week recognise and support that process," she said.
"It has always been our view that local government elections should be run in the same way as every other level of government.
"At our 2019 Annual Conference, councils supported the online iVote platform as an option to accomplish this.
"The amendments also provide scope for restrictions on campaign posters and handing out electoral materials where these restrictions are necessary for public health reasons."
Minister for Local Government, Shelley Hancock and Shoalhaven City council was contacted but had not replied.
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