West Torrens council rocked by election scam claims

Authorities are investigating claims by two councillors that an influx of more than 300 votes in their ward is a crude election scam.

Authorities are investigating claims by two councillors that an influx of more than 300 voters in their West Torrens ward may be a local government election scam.

A spokeswoman for electoral commissioner Mick Sherry revealed to The Advertiser that a whistleblower complaint of organised mass enrolment was being investigated.

“ECSA cannot comment further on this complaint as it is currently under investigation,” the spokeswoman said.

The Advertiser understands police are also investigating the irregularities, with the Director of Public Prosecutions to be briefed if a widespread problem is established.

The whistleblower is anonymous, but incumbent Keswick Ward councillors Elisabeth Papanikolaou and John Woodward both have confirmed with only 1623 votes at the last election, the influx of more than 300 at one time was obvious when they began their separate campaigns.

Ms Papanikolaou said candidates will traditionally lobby new enrollees, but she realised quickly there seemed to be irregularities because when door knocking, householders told her they did not know they were enrolled to vote.

“I was door knocking the new voters and they were surprised that they were on the roll and that they had signed documents that had put them on the roll,’’ she said

“I thought it was peculiar and also there has never been in history than much of an increase and such a big difference between the West Torrens wards.

“I am of the belief that this … needs to be investigated.

“This has to be resolved before the people on the roll get their ballot papers to vote in mid October because it is such a large number.”

Any alleged rorting would be so significant for the candidates because Mr Woodward won with only 662 votes and Ms Papanikolaou with 525.

Mr Woodward said he had quickly noticed a “larger than expected increase in the roll for Keswick Ward”.

“Yes, 300 odd votes could potentially make a difference particularly with 6 candidates,’’ he said.

The council has also confirmed the investigation: “City of West Torrens is aware of potential voters roll irregularities which we understand are currently being investigated by the ECSA”.

The Local Government “supplementary roll” is open to rorting, especially by groups newly arrived in Adelaide.

Unlike other rolls, there is no requirement to be an Australian Citizen, but the applicant must be a resident at their current address for at least one month.

Voting rights are also given to sole owners/occupiers of rateable property, businesspeople and landlords.

The West Torrens Council chambers on Sir Donald Bradman Drive, Mile End.

There is no suggestion that the new enrollees were not residents.

The Advertiser contacted all candidates, all of who denied involvement in the influx.

Another candidate, who denies any involvement with the influx, Roxane Adams, said she had discussed the issue with all other candidates, one of whom had said he was interviewed on the issue by council investigators.

Ms Adams said the supplementary roll was important because, unlike others, non-citizens were given access to democracy.

“If many people of Anglo descent turned up on the supplementary voters roll, it would be considered a victory for democracy, as has been celebrated on the standard voters roll,’’ she said.

“The supplementary roll is an avenue for non-citizens to have a say in their community lives.

“What I believe should also be taken seriously, is why more effort isn’t put into enabling residents eligible to be on the supplementary roll, to enrol and vote?”