Townsville local government elections polling booths

This Saturday, Townsville residents will vote for a new council. Here is everything you need to know about candidates, how to fill out the ballot paper and where you can find polling booths.

Caitlan Charles

@ccharles93

2 min read

March 15, 2024 - 11:51AM

Townsville Bulletin

Townsville

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This Saturday, Townsville residents will head to the polling booths to select a new council and mayor.

The city is divided up into 10 divisions, with one councillor covering each division. On top of that, the c ity has a mayor, which represents all divisions.

Each council’s election style is slightly different, but in Townsville candidates can run as independents, for political parties or as part of a team.

In Townsville, there are two teams running – Team Hill and Change – there is one candidate running for The Greens, and every other candidate is independent.

However, the Townsville Bulletin did reveal during the campaign that many of the candidates are affiliated with political parties.

Townsville residents will need to vote for a representative in their division only. If you need to know which division you are voting in, the Queensland Electoral Commission has divisional maps that show the boundaries.

Two council candidates – Suzy Batkovic and Kurt Rehbein – are unopposed in Division 6 and 7 respectively.

Candidates answered a series of questions for the Townsville Bulletin to show where they stand on key issues in the community. Read their answers here.

When you get to the polling booths (listed by division below), you will be given two ballot papers, one for Mayor and one for your division.

Townsville City Council uses optional preferential voting, which you can learn more about here.

You are required to mark the ballot with a 1 for your preferred candidate. If you choose, you may then label other candidates with a 2, 3, or 4. You can choose to mark any number of boxes, but are not required to mark all of them.

Your vote will not be counted if you do not complete the ballot paper correctly. A ballot paper can be deemed informal if it is blank or unmarked, if ticks or crosses have been used when numbering in order of preference is required, if the required number of boxes haven’t been marked, or it has writing on it that identifies the elector.

When you have made your selection, place you ballot papers in the boxes indicate at the voting centre.

Then, it’s time to enjoy a snag – with schools and community groups often hosting sausage sizzles or bake sales to raise money.