Get in early, candidates urged

INTENDING candidates for next month's council elections have been urged not to leave their nominations to the last moment. Nominations close at noon on Monday (September 26) and Electoral Commissioner Julian Type urged candidates not to leave their nominations to the last moment as late nominations cannot be accepted. “Those planning to nominate on the last morning run the risk of missing out if they are delayed or
if there is a problem with their nomination,” Mr Type said yesterday.

In 2007, 128 of the 414 candidates (31%) lodged their nomination form on the last morning of the nomination period. "This creates a huge workload for electoral officials in checking the nominations and preparing election documentation for the announcement of the candidates and production of postal ballot packs," Mr Type said.

The names of all candidates will be announced at noon on Tuesday (September 27). The returning officer for each council will then conduct draws to determine the order of names on the first rotation of ballot papers. The draws will be conducted at the offices of the Australian Electoral Commission in Hobart, Launceston and Burnie. The election will be conducted by postal voting between October 11-25.