March 16, 2020
South Burnett council election candidates have been urged to abandon handing out How-To-Vote cards for the safety of both volunteers and voters during the COVID-19 crisis.
South Burnett Mayor Keith Campbell said a teleconference with all Queensland mayors and CEOs was held on Monday morning, chaired by Local Government Minister Stirling Hinchliffe.
Also taking part were Attorney-General Yvette D’Ath and Queensland Electoral Commissioner Pat Vidgen.
The strong advice from the teleconference – although it was not made mandatory – was that contact between volunteers and voters be limited as far as possible at polling booths.
Pre-polling opened across Queensland on Monday morning.
Mayor Campbell said he had managed to contact all but two candidates to pass on the advice after the conference.
He recommended that How-To-Vote cards not be physically handed out.
“This is for the safety of volunteers – a number of whom are elderly themselves – as well as the health and safety of the public,” Mayor Campbell said.
Voters are also being encouraged to bring along their own pen or pencil to vote.
“Hand sanitiser will also be available at polling booths,” Mayor Campbell said.
The Mayor said he believed the likelihood was the coronavirus problem would worsen before it gets better.
Cr Danita Potter said she had made the decision to not hand out How-To-Vote cards to protect her volunteers, who were family members and friends, as well as voters.
“It may well cost me votes, but it is important to set an example,” she said.
“Health is part of my Council portfolio.”
Applications for postal votes close at 7:00pm on Monday (March 16).
An Electoral Commission spokesperson said more than 96,000 people across Queensland had already applied for a postal vote.
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