Candidates struggle with system glitches in rush to nominate for Gold Coast 2020 election

Potential system glitches have emerged as another hurdle for rushing candidates in the race to meet today’s election nomination deadline.

GOLD Coast candidates are warning about potential system glitches with the Electoral Commission of Queensland as a final rush starts to nominate for the council poll.

At 4.45pm yesterday, the ECQ had received 44 nominations for the Coast local government election on March 28.

Helensvale Library pre polling venue in 2016 — will the 2020 poll see a record field of candidates. Pic by David Clark.

GOLD COAST BULLETIN ELECTION FORUMS: ALL YOU NEED TO KNOW

The Bulletin has counted up to 60 people in the past few months on Facebook and campaign forums have flagged their intentions to run. They have until midday to do the paperwork.

ECQ records show Mayor Tom Tate, rivals Mona Hecke, Gary Pead, Brett Lambert and Derek Martin Rosborough have nominated.

Robina dry cleaner Virginia Freebody, despite being vocal on the campaign trail, has not completed her nomination forms yet.

Councillors experienced in polling say it can take up to four hours to fill in forms and get signatures from enough backers.

Division 2 candidate John Wayne, a former councillor, recalls “several worrisome hours” on Monday trying to lodge nomination forms at the Returning Officer’s headquarters in Siganto Drive, Oxenford.

Gold Coast City Council candidate John Wayne. Photo: Facebook

“There were some unexplainable problems with data transfer and access. Of the twelve nominees I had on my forms — all long term residents — the candidate portal accepted only two names. The returning officer was very helpful and rang several other experts for help, but none could explain why there was the glitch occurring,” he said.

“All information was entered as written on the AEC web page when we checked each person through the ‘Check My Enrolment’ link, yet we were continually getting a message saying ‘not a registered voter’.

“This also happened with one person who provided us with a photocopy of their ‘Confirmation of electoral enrolment’ letter. All details entered as seen on the official document, yet not recognised on the portal.

“The decision was made to leave and come back later after system adjustments could be made by head office. I had in the meantime gained more signatures from keen residents wanting to support my nomination.

Gold Coast Mayoral candidate Virginia Freebody — still to nominate. Pic Tim Marsden.

“By 4pm we finally had eight names accepted, with five residents names still not being acknowledged.”

Mr Wayne said the experienced highlighted for him the importance of checking the electoral roll.

“The software was glitchy and very clumsy. For it to reject all but two individuals in the first, second and third pass proved the problem was in the data management software. So a warning to everyone, it might be part of the boundary changes that have caused the issues, so if you have opportunity to go online and check your enrolled details file, do it. Make sure you are still recorded to vote and your details are up to date,” he said.

WHO HAS NOMINATED SO FAR?

MAYORAL CANDIDATES

*Mona Hecke

*Brett Lambert

*Gary Pead

*Derek Martin Rosborough

*Tom Tate

DIVISION ONE

*Renee Clarke

*Mark Hammel

*Pat Reynolds

*Andrew Stimson

DIVISION TWO

*Cr William Owen-Jones

*John Wayne

DIVISION THREE

*Cr Donna Gates

DIVISION FOUR

*Cr Kristyn Boulton

*Cr Cameron Caldwell

DIVISION FIVE

*Cr Peter Young

DIVISION SIX

*Brooke Patterson

*Michael Pulford

*Shaelee Welchman

DIVISION SEVEN

*Ryan Bayldon-Lumsden

*Amin-Reza Javanmard

*Anthony Melia

DIVISION EIGHT

*Matthew Armstrong

*Cr Bob La Castra

*Joshua Smith

DIVISION NINE

*David De Bastos Guimaraes

*Keith Douglas

*Mary-Anne Hossack

*Cr Glenn Tozer

DIVISION TEN

*Seema Chauhan

*Adrian Johnston

*Rowan Panozzo

*Eddy Sarroff

*Darren Taylor

DIVISION ELEVEN

*Hermann Vorster

DIVISION TWELVE

*Catherine Osborne

*Zac Revere

*Scott Turner

*Cr Pauline Young

DIVISION THIRTEEN

*Katrina Beikoff

*Cr Daphne McDonald

*Scott Wallace

*Bern Young

DIVISION FOURTEEN

*Gloria Baker

*Cr Gail O’Neill