The new Central Coast Council has called for the NSW Electoral Commission to exercise leniency when considering whether or not residents had sufficient reason not to vote in the September 9 local government election.
A motion moved by Clr Greg Best and seconded by Clr Troy Marquart, was passed unanimously at the October 9 ordinary meeting.
Clr Best moved that: “Council notes that the first election of the Central Coast Council involved a new local government area divided in to five wards, which were likely to be unfamiliar to and potentially confusing to some resident electors”.
As a result, he argued that Council should request that the NSW Electoral Commissioner exercise appropriate discretion and leniency when determining, for the purposes of the Local Government Act 1993, whether a resident appears to not have sufficient reason for failing to vote; and when determining whether a reason given by any such resident is acceptable to the Commissioner.
Source:
Agenda item 6.2, Oct 9
Central Coast Council ordinary meeting