UPDATE: October 20, 6pm
Across the three wards that are being contested – Central, Lakes and Murray-Mallee – on Saturday, more than 7300 ballots had been returned as of 6pm Thursday.
In the Central Ward, 5,128 ballots had been returned (60.97 per cent of the total enrollment), 1188 Lake Ward ballots had been returned (59.79 per cent of the total enrollment), while in the Murray-Mallee Ward, 1044 ballots had been returned (54.15 per cent of the total enrollment).
EARLIER:
MORE than 40 per cent of eligible voters in the Swan Hill Rural City Council election have decided who they want to be represented by for the next four years.
Swan Hill Rural City Council returning officer Laurie Jaensch said ballot packs should now have been received by residents and ratepayers in the municipality.
“If you have lost, damaged or not received your ballot pack, call 1300 597 461 immediately during business hours to have a replacement pack sent to you,” he said.
“Alternatively, you can visit the election office and vote on the spot.
“People should come to the election office, not the council offices as they have no connection to the Victorian Electoral Commission.”
Across the three wards that are being contested – Central, Lakes and Murray-Mallee – on Saturday, more than 5800 ballots had been returned as of 5pm Tuesday.
In the Central Ward, 4,102 ballots had been returned (48.73 per cent of the total enrollment), 954 Lake Ward ballots had been returned (48 per cent of the total enrollment), while in the Murray-Mallee Ward, 786 ballots had been returned (40.77 per cent of the total enrollment).
Sixteen candidates are running for just seven positions on council.
All four Central Ward positions will be filled by new councillors, after councillors Jessie Kiley, Jim Crowe and Greg Cruickshank declined to re-stand.
Former mayor and Central councillor Michael Adamson resigned from his post earlier this year.
Mayor Les McPhee will be challenged in the Lakes Ward by Allen Ridgeway while Cr Gary Norton faces opposition in the Murray-Mallee Ward from Barry Waylen and Gregg Cook.
The Robinvale Ward is uncontested after John Katis, who was first elected onto council in 1997, was unchallenged.
It must be in the mail, or hand-delivered to the election office, by 6pm on Friday, October 21.
The election office is located at the Swan Hill Town Hall, 53-57 McCallum Street, Swan Hill and is open to the public. The office is open from:
– 9am to 5pm Monday to Wednesday
– 9am to 8pm Thursday
– 9am to 6pm Friday.
Voting is compulsory for voters on the state roll for these elections at 4pm on Friday, August 26, 2016.
Enrolled residents may be fined if they do not vote – this includes homeowners and tenants.
You are encouraged to vote (but won’t be fined if you don’t) if you:
– are aged 70 years or over on election day
– are a council-enrolled voter.
