Local council elections: NSW MP Roy Butler calls for government to roll out electronic, postal voting
A NSW MP says council elections — delayed until September 2021 — should still be held this year despite the threat of COVID-19. SEE HOW AND VOTE IN OUR POLL HERE.
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A NSW MP is calling for the State Government to reinstate plans for millions of voters to go to the polls for local government elections across the state — despite the looming threat of a second major COVID-19 outbreak.
Barwon Shooters MP Roy Butler said regional councils, not involved in the failed amalgamation process, would have seen representatives serve for more than five years if elections are delayed until September next year.
Mr Butler raised the issue on June 18 as COVID-19 cases began to decline, but said he stood by renewed calls to “run the elections as soon as NSW Health sign off on them”.
“When the motion was raised, the government was encouraging 10,000-spectator sporting events to return and bars, clubs and pubs to throw their doors open,” Mr Butler said. “But didn’t encourage the return of democracy.”
The MP called on the government to investigate the options of postal and electronic voting to be used as a way to co-ordinate local government elections in 2020, even suggesting elections could be staggered to allow for social distancing.
However, Local Government Minister Shelley Hancock said council elections would be held on September 4, 2021.
“The decision to postpone elections was not taken lightly and was made to provide certainty for councils and communities across the state,” Ms Hancock told NewsLocal.
“The NSW Electoral Commissioner made the request to postpone the elections.”