Tuesday 28 October, 2008
Council Elections Poorly Managed And Run
The Local Government Association has told councils it will not give up until it gets to the bottom of the skyrocketing election costs which could see local services reduced and projects stalled.
On the final day of the Association's annual conference, delegates gave numerous examples of how this year's local government elections were poorly run and managed by the NSW Electoral Commission.
"This is not the so called deluxe service that councils and their communities across the state are paying for," said President of the Local Government Association of NSW, Cr Genia McCaffery.
"I have been inundated with examples of how the elections were poorly run and managed.
"Voters were given incorrect information, returning officers were providing conflicting advice, and one candidate was told they were elected when they weren't.
"Some long term residents turned up to vote only to find their names weren't on the electoral roll.
"Most outrageous is that some voters in Blacktown lost their fundamental right to vote because a polling booth ran out of ballot papers. The list keeps growing.
"Ratepayers are being forced to pay up to three times more for the running of the 2008 elections compared to 2004 and they have a right to know exactly how their money was spent."
Lack of community awareness about the elections was another issue raised by delegates.
"So many residents didn't even know the elections were on, or that it was compulsory to vote.
"An effective public awareness campaign is a fundamental part of the lead up to any election.
"We fear ratepayers are being used as a cash cow to fund the Electoral Commission's general ongoing costs and we are looking into conducting an independent review."
The conference finishes today. Resolutions will be available on the LGA Conference website next week.
Media Officer: Fay Daoud - 0437 477 567
Media Comment: Cr Genia McCaffery - 0419 404 867
