Council election pre-polling locations ready for voters

Nearly 250,000 people are registered to vote in Northern NSW on December 4 and this time everyone can vote early. Here is where you can do it.

Pre-polling locations around Northern NSW opened on Monday morning and this year everyone can vote early in the council elections.

Residents from 124 NSW councils will be electing councillors on December 4.

Everyone can vote early as long as they follow some basic Covid-safe rules such as wearing a mask and respecting social distancing.

Click here for a full list of pre-polling locations from the Tweed to Coffs Harbour in Northern NSW.

The full list of candidates have been published for Lismore, Byron Shire, Ballina, Tweed, Clarence Valley and Coffs Harbour.

A spokesman for the NSW Electoral commission said it was a requirement for all staff working at the election to be fully vaccinated, but that requirement did not extend to voters.

“Voting is compulsory for all enrolled residents of NSW, regardless of vaccination status,” he said.

“You don’t need to be vaccinated to vote.

“Covid-safety measures will be in place at all polling places.”

The spokesman said early voting options, including voting by post, were also available.

More than 250,000 people are eligible to vote in this election, with the breakdown by area as follows:

Tweed: 72,543

Byron: 23,167

Ballina: 31,565

Kyogle: 4592

Lismore: 56,105

Clarence Valley: 38,443

Coffs: 54,346

Richmond Valley: 17,747

He said the penalty for failure to vote was $55.

100m rule

Voters will see some changes to how to vote cards, which must be handed out 100m from an entry or exit of a polling place.

The minimum distance in previous elections has been six metres.

There were no queues at the Byron Bay Community Centre on Monday at noon.

It is one of two pre-polling location in the Byron Shire.

Voters are required to wear a mask, with extra ones available for those who still forget to carry one.

After checking in using a smartphone or manually, each voters is given a pen.

Voting closes at 6pm on December 4.