Political survival of candidates in four key seats to come down to final postal votes
IT’S been a long wait but Territorians won’t likely know who’s claimed victory across the NT’s seats still in doubt until Friday
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IT’S been a long wait but Territorians won’t likely know who’s claimed victory across the NT’s four seats still in doubt until Friday, with about 1000 postal votes still to arrive.
The NT Electoral Commission (NTEC) will start its second week of counting tomorrow, with only a small number of votes separating candidates in Namatjira (10), Araluen (12), Blain (14) and Barkly (23).
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Their political survival depends on postal votes, which must be received by the NTEC by noon this Friday.
The counting process may seem a bit longer than usual this election due to recent changes to the Electoral Act, an NTEC spokesman said.
“The government passed amendments in 2016 to extend the postal voting deadline to two weeks after election night instead of just one,” he said.
“That’s why we feel there’s no need to rush the count when we know about 800-1000 postal votes will be coming this week before Friday’s cut-off.
“This longer process is more or less going to be the new normal for Territory elections now, especially if we keep seeing such close results.
“This year was also the first time the NT’s new regulations, which allow eligible people who turn up on election day to get enrolled if they haven’t yet, and vote. It’s called a provisional vote, which have made up most of the 2100-odd declaration votes we’ve received this election.”
It comes after Labor recently lodged a complaint with the NTEC about postal votes allegedly being cast after the polls closed in the August 22 election.
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Amendments to the Electoral Act in 2016 permit anyone to obtain a postal vote but they are required to fill in their ballots by 6pm on election night.
Labor secretary Anthony Brereton said he had “serious concerns” some ballots may have been completed after that deadline.
The NTEC has received more than 50 complaints related to the recent election.
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