Pre-poll centres for the Wollongong City Council Ward 3 byelection have opened, with a handful of voters grabbing the opportunity to be among the first to put pencil to ballot paper.
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The roll-up of voters was slow-going on Monday morning, but interest is expected to increase as word of the looming poll spreads and byelection day nears.
Monday’s opening of two byelection early-voting centres, at Warrawong and Dapto, came less than two weeks before voters in the council’s southernmost ward head to the polls on November 24.
The byelection was triggered by the resignation of Labor councillor Chris Connor, who found he was unable to properly represent his constituents from his new home in Tamworth.
In December, just months after being elected, Cr Connor accepted a job as the head of Tamworth Public School.
Four candidates are vying to replace the former councillor (in ballot paper order): Ami Beck (Independent), Ann Martin (Labor), Jamie Dixon (Greens) and John Mullan (Independent).
Pre-poll voting can be done at the Dapto Ribbonwood Centre – 93-109 Princes Highway, Dapto – or at the Wollongong Returning Officer's Office, at Unit 2/73 King Street, Warrawong.
Ms Martin and Mr Mullan were handing out how-to-votes at the Ribbonwood Centre on Monday morning, while the Greens’ volunteers were also campaigning.
All three contenders also had a presence over in Warrawong, albeit for a lighter volume of voter traffic.
The how-to-votes show Ms Martin and Mr Mullan have suggested people put “1” next to their respective names and not distribute preferences.
However, Mr Dixon has preferenced Ms Martin second, followed by Ms Beck and Mr Mullan.
No campaign material for Ms Beck was evident at either pre-poll venue, when the Mercury visited both on Monday morning.
The pre-polling centres are open until November 23 – 8.30am to 5pm Monday to Friday and 9am to 5pm on Saturday.
The pre-poll centres will open an hour longer on November 23, byelection eve, closing at 6pm.