Pre-polling at local government elections could be halved to one week under a proposal supported by the recent NSW Local Government Conference.
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More than 10,500 pre-polled at the temporary Howick Street polling station during the 2017 Bathurst Regional Council elections last September – about 45 per cent of the total votes cast.
But under the proposal passed at the local government conference, pre-polling would only be open from Saturday to Friday of the week before the election.
Gunnedah mayor Jamie Chaffey put forward the proposal, saying it would help cut election costs.
“A shorter pre-polling period would also allow for candidates that may have full-time employment more opportunity to man the stations, as well as open candidacy up to more people who previously may not have stood for election due to time constraints,” he said.
“Our proposal would not disadvantage residents, as the two-week postal voting period would remain the same.”
Have your say
Pre-polling is available to those who are unable to make it to a polling booth on election day because they’re away, sick or working.
LGNSW will now take the successful motion to the NSW Government.