Cost-cutting plan for returning officer to have central base

LEETON Shire residents wanting to run for council may need to visit Griffith to nominate for the 2008 local government elections under a cost-cutting proposal by the NSW Electoral Commission (NSWEC).
It has been proposed by NSWEC that one returning officer will be appointed to administer elections in Leeton Shire, Griffith City and Hay Shire councils.
Leeton Shire councillors expressed concern for this proposal at last Wednesday’s ordinary meeting.
“People shouldn’t have to travel out of town to lodge electoral nominations,” Cr Michael Kidd said.
“That impinges on people’s democratic right, particularly if they had no means to travel.”
Councillors agreed to support the amalgamation in principle, providing the returning officer is available at council at specific times in the lead up to election day to provide information to candidates and members of the public.
Council will also request all enquiries and requests for information of the returning officer be responded to in a timely manner and an assurance that the results of the election are forwarded to council within an acceptable timeframe.
In June council received advice from NSWEC that an estimate of the cost of conducting the September 2008 elections would be about $55,000.
This estimate is up significantly from $32,000 incurred for the 2004 elections, although there were elections held in two wards only.
It is proposed that for 2008 the returning officer will be based in Griffith and that the administration of the elections for each council would be conducted by the returning officer from the Griffith office.
Leeton Shire councillors moved to consult with other shires on the issue to see how they may be affected.
Each council would share the cost of the returning officer and office costs based on each council’s number of voters.
Councils will pay for other election services based on each council’s particular requirements, such as the number of polling places.
It is proposed pre-poll voting will be available at council’s office for two
weeks prior to election day.
NSWEC will train a person employed by them to issue pre-poll votes.
The conduct of local government elections is the responsibility of the NSWEC.
Almost everything from advertising to the printing of the ballot papers and candidate handouts must first have the approval of NSWEC.