Allegations that Labor party officials misused electoral roll details to rig a community preselection are being investigated by the NSW Electoral Commission. Possible misuse of electoral roll information is proving to be a headache for the party during the run up the July Federal election with former party boss Jamie Clements last month charged by the NSW Electoral Commission for disclosing protected information to his factional ally, the disgraced union boss Derrick Belan. The new investigation was prompted by Fairfax Media revelations that Labor’s community preselection for the state seat of Ballina might have involved vote rigging. A senior figure from Labor’s head office in Sussex Street recently informed Fairfax Media that a party official had used a database called “Campaign Central”, which contains detailed information on voters including electoral roll details, to influence the outcome of a preselection ballot.
In September 2014, residents in the Ballina electorate were encouraged to vote online in what was billed as an “historic pre-selection”, so they could “have their voice heard on who Labor’s candidate will be for the 2015 State Election”.
However, Fairfax Media was informed that to ensure head office’s favoured candidate Paul Spooner won, a party official may have perpetrated electoral fraud. The official is alleged to have randomly chosen members of the public and used their names and addresses to vote online for Mr Spooner.
Full Article: NSW Electoral Commission investigates allegations of Labor vote-rigging.