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Let’s all have a jolly, jolly Christmas
DECEMBER 16-22, 2021 | LOCALLY OWNED & INDEPENDENTT | FR FREE! FRE EE! E!
HORSES FOR CHRISTMAS COURSES SANTA paid a visit to Dubbo Harness Racing Club on the eve of the organisation’s 60th birthday and had a chat to a few of the horses about putting in some overtime work. Apparently the kangaroos Santa uses to pull his sleigh across Australia reckon the job of delivering all the presents around Dubbo is too big for them so they’re looking for a team of local horses to help out. The local steeds said they’d be only too happy to help Santa out because they’re used to being in harness anyway. As a reward, Santa handed out some special Christmas treats on the night.
Harness 60th Racing INSIDE SPORT ❱❱ Page x
WHAT’S THE HOLD UP? Election: How votes are counted and why it’s taking so long
By BROOKE JACOBSON WITH the Local Government elections held two weeks ago, many residents might be wondering why the vote counting takes so long. It seems the wheels of democracy turn slowly and it’s for good reason. The NSW Electoral Commission has to ensure that each person’s vote is counted, and counted correctly. Across the state, the Electoral Commission received 290,827 applications for postal votes, 215,757 applications to use iVote, and more than 538,485 people
voted early in person at the Local Government poll. NSW Electoral Commissioner, John Schmidt, said it had been encouraging to see so many people voted early and that ensuring a safe vote had been of vital importance. “Careful planning has gone into delivering these elections and safety has been our top priority,” he said. “All polling places were operated in line with our COVID-safe election guidelines including masks, physical distancing, single-use pens, queue management and voting screen inserts.” But what happens once you’ve
cast your vote? Your ballot papers stay in the ballot box, untouched, until 6pm on election day. The boxes are then opened, and the voting papers are sorted and counted. According to the NSW Electoral Commission, there’s an initial count of ballot papers for mayor – where applicable – and an initial count of ballot papers for all councillor positions. There is also sorting and counting according to first preferences for each candidate and, where applicable, each group. All mayor and councillor ballot papers will undergo a check count, which starts on the Mon-
day following election day. This comprises batching, which is counting the ballot papers into bundles of 50 without examining the preferences. During the check count, the ballot papers will be counted using the NSW Electoral Commission’s computer count system. The closing date for receiving postal votes is Friday, December 17, so until every last postal vote is received and counted, the final results are not able to be published. The distribution of preferences can only be conducted after the close of receipt of postal vote envelopes. The NSW Electoral Commis-
sion website will update results daily until all postal votes have been received and counted. Once the election has been officially declared, results will be displayed at the council office and on the Electoral Commission’s website. A recount will only occur if requested by a candidate in writing and the commissioner believes it’s necessary; or if directed by the commissioner. Date of declaration varies from council to council, depending on how long it takes to count. You can find the NSW Electoral Commission website at: www.elections.nsw.gov.au
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