The Office of Local Government (OLG) have set new dates for key activities in the lead up to the council elections following their postponement of the elections to December 4.
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They are as follows:
- Oct 25, 2021 Close of electoral rolls (6pm) and Candidate nominations open
- Nov 3, 2021 Close of candidate nominations (12pm) and registration of electoral materials starts
- Nov 5, 2021 Caretaker period starts
- Nov 22, 2021 Pre-poll voting opens
- Nov 26, 2021 Registration of electoral material closes (5pm)
- Nov 27, 2021 Declared institution voting starts
- Nov 29, 2021 Postal vote applications close (5pm)
- Dec 3, 2021 Declared institution voting closes (6pm) and Pre-poll voting closes (6pm)
- Dec 4, 2021 Election day (8am-6pm)
- Dec 17, 2021 Return of postal votes closes (6pm)
- Dec 21 - 23, 2021 Results declared progressively as counts are finalised by election manager.
Shoalhaven City Council have updated their website information.
In response to community confusion brought about by the election's postponement, OLG released a set of Frequently Asked Questions.
The FAQs illustrate why the decision to delay the election was made, stating that the NSW Electoral Commissioner advised the government it was no longer tenable to hold council elections during the current COVID outbreak.
"The Government cannot take the chance that there will be no further outbreaks in regional areas between now and 4 September 2021 that would put council elections in those areas at risk," it said.
"Conducting council elections in regional areas will also require the movement of personnel and equipment from Greater Sydney to those areas creating the risk that holding elections in regional areas may cause the virus to be seeded in those areas."
"When holding postal voting only elections for the 2021 local government elections was proposed as an option to address the risks of holding council elections during the COVID-19 pandemic, it was strongly opposed by the local government sector. It is now too late to revisit that option," the FAQ reads.
"It is hoped that the measures imposed under the Public Health Order will be effective in containing the current outbreak well before December."
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Liam Cormican
I'm a journalist for the South Coast Register. Got a tip? Email liam.cormican@austcommunitymedia.com.au
I'm a journalist for the South Coast Register. Got a tip? Email liam.cormican@austcommunitymedia.com.au
