Candidates turn tables on coronavirus and cut volunteers handing out voting cards

Candidates in the Logan City Council election concerned about the spread of coronavirus have put aside differences to trial a self-imposed ban on volunteers handing out voting cards. There has also been NO change to the 7pm deadline for postal application registrations yet.

Mayoral candidate Stewart Fleming with volunteers putting down their how to vote cards at Browns Plains.

CANDIDATES in this month’s Logan City Council elections have temporarily put aside some differences to turn the tables on coronavirus.

In an effort to keep body contact at pre-polling stations to a minimum, mayoral candidate Stewart Fleming set up a table for all candidates to display their How to Vote cards.

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Mr Fleming said the table cut the need for lots of volunteers handing out voting cards helping stem the spread of the deadly virus.

Thirty volunteers were crammed in to the forecourt of the polling station at Eastern Rd, Browns Plains this morning.

“On top of the huge number of volunteers, there were more than 50 people arriving to cast their vote early,” Mr Fleming said.

Signs outside the Browns Plains voting booth this morning where there was limited parking after candidate Jacob Heremaia parked a trailer on the side of the driveway to the polling station.

“If we are to stay in line with the measures being implemented across the country and minimise human contact, we should not be handing out voting cards personally.

“All the candidates at this booth and the mayoral candidates bar one, have agreed to put their cards on the table so voters can pick up the card without touching anyone.”

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Mr Fleming said it would also mean more carparking at each of the five pre-polling booths.

Logan Returning Officer Ray Langer approved of the table.

“It will not be possible to display inside the booths due to legislated rules governing elections but, with all candidates’ agreement, there is no reason why a display cannot be arranged outside the booths at the agreed 6m mark, with boxes containing material per candidate,” Mr Langler said in an email.

“This might then need just one person to replenish the material.

“Why not talk to the others and trial at all Early Voting centres?

“It would be ideal if the council candidates came on board as well but that I suspect would be very difficult to arrange especially at Early Voting centres,” Mr Langler said.

Voters lining up at the Slacks Creek voting booth. Candidates are concerned about the spread of the coronavirus.

The bid was backed by another mayoral candidate John Freeman who made similar suggestions last week.

Mr Freeman called on all Logan candidates last week to refrain from handing out How to Vote cards after COVID-19 was branded a pandemic.

“I will not be putting my campaign workers, or the community’s health and safety before my mayoral election endeavours and will not have people handing out How to Vote cards,” Mr Freeman said.

“All election material for my campaign from today will only be delivered digitally via social media or directly into the inboxes of residents.”

NURSING HOMES

There has been no update on which nursing homes in Logan will be eligible for telephone voting.

Telephone voting will be available for nursing home residents.

Telephone voting for elderly was announced on the weekend as unease spread across Logan as campaign volunteers and candidates tried to shield themselves from catching coronavirus.

Under the rules for telephone voting, those who are eligible must call and apply to vote via phone.

They will get a Personal Identification Number (PIN) which they will then use on polling day when they ring to cast their vote.

Mayoral candidates from Logan joined Brisbane and Redland mayors on the weekend to call for an extension to postal applications.

However, the deadline at 3.15pm stilled remained at 7pm tonight, March 16.

But Logan mayoral candidate Darren Power said a two-week extension to the polling date and postal registrations was needed.

He called for a review of the electoral commission after another computer glitch on Sunday stopped people registering for postal votes online before Monday’s deadline.

“No-one has been able to get into the postal votes online over the weekend and as a result we may need to extend the election by two weeks,” Mr Power said.

“You have to register to get a postal vote by 7pm tomorrow.

“That’s not going to happen for a lot of people and already I’ve had at least 50 people contacting me complaining.”

WHERE TO VOTE EARLY

The Federal Government locked down the country’s borders yesterday, advised of a 1.5m social distance between people and suggested no hand shaking.”

Early voting centres in Logan are at 14 Cronulla Crt, Slacks Creek; 1 Enterprise Dr, Beenleigh; 36 Centenary Place, Logan Village; 64 Easter

n Rd, Browns Plains and at Crestmead PCYC, Gimlet St, Crestmead. They are open Monday to Friday from 9am to 5pm.