By Jeremy Sollars
The Electoral Commission of Queensland says it is still “finalising” its position on the possible issuing of fines to those who did not vote in the 2020 Queensland council elections.
But the ECQ says it is “very conscious of community concerns” over the COVID-19 risk during the election period.
In the Southern Downs Regional Council area 4017 voters who were on the electoral roll – out of 25,950 – did not register a vote at the council election in March, believed to largely be related to concerns over COVID-19 keeping them away from polling stations.
Polling stations at the Warwick Town Hall and at the Anglican Church Hall in Stanthorpe were open for early voting ahead of election day – Saturday 28 March – with around two-thirds of local voters choosing that option to cast their vote.
The ECQ says across Queensland “approximately 2.5 million of 3.3 million enrolled electors voted in the 2020 local government elections” and 570,000 postal votes were sent out state-wide to voters who requested them.
Around 1400 local voters used the postal method at the election.
The Free Times this week asked the ECQ if those who did not vote would be fined, with a spokeswoman saying it would make a decision “in the coming months”.’
“The ECQ was very conscious of community concerns at voting in the recent local government elections,” the spokeswoman said.
“At all times, the ECQ took advice from the Queensland Chief Health Officer to ensure the safety of electors and our staff.
“It is standard after each election that the ECQ administer a non-voter program to follow up electors who appeared not to vote.
“There are a number of steps in the program which ultimately may or may not lead to the issuing of a fine for not voting.
“The ECQ is very aware that the local government election was held in extraordinary circumstances and the community held real public safety concerns.
“The ECQ will finalise and communicate its position on non-voters for the local government election in the coming months.
“It is important to note that a fine is not automatic – the process provides opportunities for electors to explain their own circumstances.”
The fine for not voting in Queensland is $133.
Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk has not yet ruled out using a ‘full postal’ voting method for the State election due on Saturday 31 October.
LOCAL FIGURES – INCLUDING LOCAL POLLING STATIONS…
Final election figures released late last week by the ECQ show 14,482 Southern Downs Regional Council voters cast their votes early in 2020, roughly two-thirds of the 25,950 on the electoral roll.
The breakdown of the first-preference mayoral vote among early voters was as follows –
Warwick…
• Tracy Dobie 4463
• Vic Pennisi 2975
• Joe Doepel 436
• Peter Kemp 1529
Stanthorpe…
• Tracy Dobie 937
• Vic Pennisi 3592
• Joe Doepel 141
• Peter Kemp 409
Postal votes for the mayoralty were close on first preferences – Tracy Dobie with 649 and Vic Pennisi with 694.
While only around a third of votes were cast on election day itself figures for individual polling stations across the council region provide some indication of trends for the mayoral candidates.
On the percentages Tracy Dobie won the first-preference vote at the following polling stations –
• Allora
• Goomburra
• Leyburn
• Maryvale
• Massie
• Warwick
• Warwick West
• Warwick East
Vic Pennisi polled highest on first preferences at the following locations –
• Applethorpe
• Ballandean
• Broadwater
• Dalveen
• Glen Aplin
• Killarney
• Murrays Bridge
• Pratten
• Stanthorpe
• Stanthorpe West
• The Summit
• Wallangarra
• Yangan
At the Warwick area polling stations where Tracy Dobie finished ahead on first preferences Vic Pennisi polled consistently above 25 per cent including at the three Warwick polling places.
Overall – after distribution of preferences – Vic Pennisi won the mayoralty with 55.85% of the vote and Tracy Dobie 44.15%.
More results information at – www.ecq.qld.gov.au/elections
