Australia’s electoral commission boss reveals Covid-19 plans

Australia’s electoral commission boss has revealed what plans are in motion surrounding how officials will deal with queues and Covid.

Australia’s electoral commission boss has revealed how officials are planning to manage the Covid-19 pandemic during the federal election, with close contacts potentially given exemptions to leave their homes and vote.

Appearing at a Senate estimates hearing today, electoral commissioner Tom Rogers said the focus for officials was to get as many people voting at the ballot box on election day rather than using postal votes ahead of time.

The Australian Electoral Commission (AEC) is currently putting together its plan at the same time Prime Minister Scott Morrison said the decision to remove isolation requirements for close contacts of positive cases was one for the states rather than the commonwealth.

The AEC plans include allowing people who have Covid or are a close contact to vote in the May poll.

Those who test positive a few days out from polling day will be required to vote by post but if time runs out and they contract Covid after the cut-off, they can vote over the phone.

“My view is … (electoral law) requires people to vote on the day unless there’s a reason for them not to vote then,” Mr Rogers said.

“None of that is to denigrate the postal voting system in Australia.

“The telephone voting option I’m hoping to make sure is really reserved for those who are completely Covid affected and need to use it.”

Tom Rogers.

Mr Rogers said other options would be available but the preference was to keep those reserved for those who contract the virus.

The electoral commission are also adding new health and safety measures so people can feel comfortable and safe in the environment and in large queues.

“I’m very keen on this being as normal as it possibly can be,” he said.

“The less votes in envelopes, the quicker the result will be known, and the more likely that we’ll have a result on the night.”

“We are working through the health authorities in each state, we are at a very advanced stage of that,” Mr Rogers said.

“We’re not quite at the final bid where we can design a final service offering that makes sense for every body.”

Australians will head to the polls sometime in May. Picture: David Gray/Getty Images

While an election date is yet to be set, a legal challenge by Liberal state executive member and 43-year-old businessman Matthew Camenzuli had created a hurdle to the election being called while the judgment was pending.

Today the case was dismissed in court - removing a major barrier to him calling the election.