{"id":255793,"date":"2020-03-27T20:34:01","date_gmt":"2020-03-27T10:34:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/southburnett.com.au\/news2\/?p=255793"},"modified":"2021-10-05T19:57:12","modified_gmt":"2021-10-05T09:57:12","slug":"who-will-you-be-choosing","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/southburnett.com.au\/news2\/2020\/03\/27\/who-will-you-be-choosing\/","title":{"rendered":"Who Will You Be Choosing?"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Who will be leading the South Burnett after this weekend’s Council election?<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

March 27, 2020<\/strong><\/p>\n

Who will be leading the South Burnett on Monday?\u00a0It’s all up to you!<\/p>\n

There are four candidates (see below) sparring to take the mayoralty at Saturday’s Council election.<\/p>\n

Chances are, though, we won’t know the results on Monday – unless it’s a landslide result – as there are thousands of postal votes that will have to be counted and the ECQ will still be counting them up to 10 days after the poll closes.<\/p>\n

Voting is optional preferential, ie. you can just number one box, or number all on the ballot paper.<\/p>\n

The Electoral Commission of Queensland says a record number of voters have voted early right across the State.<\/p>\n

More than 7000 residents have already cast their votes in the South Burnett.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Hundreds more have applied for postal votes and many have opted for phone voting.<\/p>\n

There is still time to vote by phone if you are in isolation due to COVID-19: to register for telephone voting, phone 1300-912-782 and select Option 1.<\/p>\n

The service is open to voters with an impairment, disability or a low level of literacy, or those advised by a medical practitioner to remain in isolation.<\/p>\n

The call centre will be open from 8:00am to noon on Saturday – but beware, there has been unprecedented demand for the service and the ECQ has asked that callers not jeopardise the availability of it for those who most need it.<\/p>\n

If you haven’t already cast a pre-poll or a phone vote, you must attend a polling booth on Saturday (see list below) to vote.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Polling booths will be open from 8:00am to 6:00pm.<\/p>\n

Remember, voting IS compulsory and people who deliberately flout the law risk being fined.<\/p>\n

“Vulnerable people” (ie. those aged 60 and over) are being encouraged by the ECQ to vote between 9:00am and 11:00am.<\/p>\n

All other voters are being asked to vote outside these hours.<\/p>\n

Everyone at the polling booths should practice social distancing by keeping a minimum of 1.5 metres apart and avoid touching one another.<\/p>\n

Voters have also been encouraged to BYO pen or pencil with them to vote, and get in and out of the polling centre as quickly as possible.<\/p>\n

Don’t hang around to socialise or have a chat.<\/p>\n