Election office opens its doors

The office is one of 90 across NSW responsible for coordinating the upcoming local government elections, but Mr Malavey expects the real work to start next Monday when nominations open for the September 13 poll.

Candidates intending to stand for mayor or one of the eight councillor positions must lodge their nomination form and a $125 deposit with the returning officer between August 4 and noon on Wednesday, August 13.

The draw for positions on the ballot paper will be made that afternoon, Mr Malavey said.

Likening his task to that of a military operation, Mr Malavey says he and his small team were meeting deadlines every few days for each process involved in getting 40,000 Eurobodalla and Bega voters to the polls.

“There will be roughly 130 people working at polling booths between Eurobodalla and Bega. Much of the work is done electronically these days, and we’re heavily into that training right now.

“Preparations for pre-polling, postal votes and the logistics for the election itself are already underway. People are keen to get organised,” he said. “We’ve already handled in excess of 50 absentee voting inquiries.”

In terms of election day itself, Mr Malavey said his team would conduct the mayoral count, which they hope to finalise on the night of the election. The count and audit will be conducted in Moruya, he says, but the result will be announced by the NSW Electoral Commission’s Sydney office.

“Above the line” votes in the electoral (councillor) vote will be batched and bundled in Moruya then sent to Sydney for counting.

“This is as big as a State election,” Mr Malavey said. “It’s a massive undertaking.”

The Moruya electoral office is open on weekdays between 8.30am and 4.30pm and is located at 24 Ford Street, Moruya (in the old squash courts). Call 1300 135 736 if you have questions about the election.