Pressure is mounting for Queensland councils to resume control of local government elections after a woeful voter turnout. The Local Government Association of Queensland (LGAQ) will survey councils from next week, asking them to judge how the Electoral Commission of Queensland did running last weekend’s polls. It was the second time the electoral commission ran the elections, and LGAQ executive director Greg Hallam believes it should be the last. He says councils should resume control of the process, after a poor voter turn out of 60 per cent despite voting being compulsory.
“It was absolutely one of the worst turn outs we’ve ever seen,” LGAQ executive director Greg Hallam told AAP. “We believe we will do it better and cheaper than they have.” Mr Hallam blamed heavy rain and voter fatigue for the poor turn out after Queenslanders endured a five-week state election campaign before going to the polls on March 24. But he also said the electoral commission did a poor job, failing to promote and advertise the elections. He said there was also a shortage of ballot papers in Mackay and other areas, a lack of electoral staff, a blow out in costs, and delays in vote counting.
Full Article: Electoral commission under fire over polls.