Shellharbour mayor Marianne Saliba says a NSW Government proposal to conduct the next council elections entirely by postal vote could "undermine our democracy".
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At the last Shellharbour council meeting, Cr Saliba raised a mayoral minute to object to any plans to put in place "universal postal voting" at local government elections.
She said she had been advised that the NSW State Government was considering this - which would mean elections were conducted by postal voting only - for the next Local Government election, which is scheduled for September 4, 2021.
"I am recommending that we as a council should strongly oppose mandatory postal voting and suggest that it would have the effect of disconnecting our community from the traditional election day voting experience," Cr Saliba said.
"It would also have the effect of disenfranchising some voters and would undermine the principle of compulsory voting which is a keystone of Australia's democracy.
"Not only is this suggestion a blow to democracy it is also a big hit to our local schools' hip pockets.
"Many schools take advantage of the social and community interaction that occurs on Election Day by hosting sausage sizzles and cake stalls as well as receiving some income from the hire of their facilities.
"This in turn provides an economic boost to much-needed community projects and initiatives that benefit school children across Shellharbour City."
Independent councillor Kellie Marsh spoke in support of Cr Saliba's motion.
Calling it a "ludicrous proposal" Cr Marsh said local government elections had a lower turn out than the state and federal one as is, and also highlighted how postal voting in overseas jurisdictions had been open to voter fraud.
For many voters, going out to cast their vote, meeting their neighbours, supporting their local school or P&C by buying a sausage sizzle or through the cake stall, has become quite an Australian tradition.
- Councillor Kellie Marsh
She also said it could lead to a loss of tradition.
"For many voters, going out to cast their vote, meeting their neighbours, supporting their local school or P&C by buying a sausage sizzle or through the cake stall, has become quite an Australian tradition," Cr Marsh said.
Local Government NSW president Linda Scott has also said she was strongly opposed to universal postal voting, as it imposed a one-size-fits-all model across the state.
"Introducing universal postal voting may risk disenfranchising communities from voting in NSW local government elections," she said.
"Councils know we must work to increase voter participation, not decrease it."
Legislation would need to be amended to allow for postal-only voting to occur in NSW next year.
Kate McIlwain
For more than a decade, I've helped the Illawarra Mercury set the news agenda across the region. Currently I'm the paper's health reporter - covering the stories of Illawarra workers and residents in the wake of a global pandemic and at a time where our health systems are stretched to the limit.
For more than a decade, I've helped the Illawarra Mercury set the news agenda across the region. Currently I'm the paper's health reporter - covering the stories of Illawarra workers and residents in the wake of a global pandemic and at a time where our health systems are stretched to the limit.
