WA Electoral Commission confirms all Geraldton voting packages were posted, almost 100 have been replaced

Almost 100 replacement voting packages have been issued to voters in Greater Geraldton who either misplaced, made an error or did not receive their initial mailout. The WA Electoral Commission has confirmed that all voter packages were posted out to the 29,865 registered City of Greater Geraldton electors. There is growing speculation that many eligible voters did not receive their postal voting kit. A WAEC spokesperson said two complaints had been received from Geraldton residents in regards to not receiving their ballot papers. “If an eligible elector has not received their postal voting package, they can visit the local government office and request a replacement package. They can then vote and submit their vote on the spot,” they said. “To date we have issued 89 replacement voting packages for Greater Geraldton. An elector may request a replacement voting package for a variety of reasons including not received, misplaced, made an error while voting.” During the 2023 council election, a total of 227 replacement votes were issued to electors who had misplaced or not received their original election package. As of Thursday, the WAEC had received votes from 28.79 per cent of eligible Greater Geraldton voters, totalling 8597 returned packages. Since Monday, 953 votes have come in, with polls closing at 6pm on Saturday when counting will start. The Shire of Dowerin in the State’s Wheatbelt leads the way in the democratic process with 56.59 per cent — or 279 of 493 residents casting a vote as of Thursday. As the deadline has now passed for postal votes to be received in time to be counted, completed packages must now be hand-delivered to the City of Greater Geraldton’s administration building on Cathedral Avenue by 6pm on Saturday, October 18, or the Mullewa District Office on the corner of Thomas and Padbury streets before 5pm on Friday, October 17. Four seats are being contested this election on the Greater Geraldton council, with 13 candidates nominated. After the election, the number of members on the council will be reduced from 11 to nine, including the mayor. CANDIDATES’ Q&A: PAGES 4-6