Free read: Ultimate guide to Gladstone Regional Council election

Welcome to your ultimate guide to the 2024 Local Government Elections in Gladstone, the candidates, where to vote and how to vote.

Your guide on what you need to know about the Gladstone Local Government election.

Welcome to your free guide to the 2024 Livingstone Local Government Election.

This guide will contain the candidates, where to vote, how to vote information and where to vote on the day.

Queenslanders will head to the polls on March 16 to decide on the make-up of their local councils for the next four years.

In Australia, voting is not only a right and a responsibility, but it is compulsory for eligible Australian citizens over 18.

If you don’t vote, you could be fined, with fines starting at $66.

VOTING

Where to vote on election day

Agnes Water Community Centre

71 Springs Road, Agnes Water

Wartburg State School

585 Coast Road, Baffle Creek

Benaraby State School

17 O’Connor Road, Benaraby

Boyne Island Community Centre, Heron Room

Cnr Wyndham and Hayes Avenues, Boyne Island

Calliope State School

Dawson Highway, Calliope

Chanel College, Marian Centre

11 Paterson Street, Gladstone

Clinton State School

224 Harvey Road, Clinton

Gladstone Central State School

74 Auckland Street, Gladstone

Gladstone South State School

153 Toolooa Street, Gladstone

Gladstone West State School

Cnr Boles and Breslin Streets, Gladstone West

Gladstone Uniting Church

1 Uniting Place, Telina

Rural Transaction Building Miriam Vale

41 Blomfield Street, Miriam Vale

Mount Larcom State School

Raglan Street, Mount Larcom

Rosedale Memorial Hall

77 James Street, Rosedale

St Peter’s Anglican Church

50 J Hickey Avenue, Clinton

Tannum Sands State High School

65 Coronation Drive, Tannum Sands

Ubobo Memorial Hall

Cnr Railway Terrace and Cedarvale Road, Ubobo

Yarwun State School

35 Butler Street, Yarwun

The ideal first step for voting in the local elections is to enrol to vote, check your enrolment or update your details on the Australian Electoral Commission website.

If you recently moved house, or have updated other key details it is best to update your enrolment information before the election.

It is compulsory to enrol in council, state and federal government elections if you are an Australian citizen or eligible British subject; are aged 18 years or over; have lived at your address for at least one month.

Special enrolment categories are available for people with specific needs including those who have no fixed address or are an Australian citizen living and working overseas.

For detailed information about the special enrolment options available to you go to the AEC website.

Those who wish to vote via post needed to have applied and votes can only be submitted before 6pm on election day.

Postal votes are required to be returned by Tuesday March 26.

Postal votes must be received by the Electoral Commission Queensland within 10 days after election day to be included in the count, if a vote is received after the deadline, it won’t be counted.

HOW TO VOTE

Once you’re sure your enrollment information is accurate and up-to-date you need to find out the list of candidates (see below).

For more election facts, head to the AEC website to find out more on common misinformation, frequently asked questions and background data.

ELECTION DAY

Once you have confirmed your electoral information is up-to-date, you’ve done your research on candidates and confirmed your closest polling booth you’re ready to head to the polls on March 16.

When you arrive at a polling booth, head to the issuing officer table where an election official will verify your identity before giving you your ballot paper.

You may be required to confirm your address, so make sure your information is current with the Australian Electoral Commission when doing so.

After that, you’ll be directed to a voting booth where you can cast your ballot in private, take your time and make sure to read the information provided on the ballot slip.

Place your completed ballot paper/s in the ballot box as you leave. Polling officials will be available to provide assistance should you have any questions.

CANDIDATES

Mayor

Matt Burnett

Councillors

Natalia Muszkat

Michael Fearns

Karen Davis

Michelle Wagner

Mellissa Holzheimer

Ben Noll (DJB)

Murray Peterson

Craig Tomsett

Simon McClintock

Leanne Patrick

Paul Van Meteren

Kahn Goodluck

Jessica Bray

Chris Cameron

Glenn Churchill

WHAT HAPPENS IF YOU DO NOT VOTE

After an election, records are checked and if it appears you have not voted you may receive an apparent failure to vote notice.

This notice will provide you with an opportunity to say if you did or didn’t vote, or why you didn’t vote.

If you receive the notice you can provide your valid reasoning for not casting a vote, confirm that you did cast a vote by providing the appropriate details or pay a fine of one penalty unit at the time of the offence, or half this amount if the fine is paid before the due date.

If you don’t respond to the apparent failure to vote notice, you are likely to receive an infringement notice, which is the fine for not voting.

If the fine is not paid, you may be referred to the State Penalties Enforcement Registry (SPER) for further action and additional charges may apply.

Originally published as Free read: Ultimate guide to Gladstone Regional Council election