The electoral race is heating up as Illawarra residents prepare to take to the polls on Saturday, December 4 and choose who they want to represent them on council.
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Across the region there are more than 100 candidates vying for a spot, with 51 in Wollongong, 17 in Shellharbour, and 41 in Kiama.
As well as choosing their councillors, residents of Wollongong and Shellharbour are tasked with voting for their next mayor, too.
How to vote:
Six people are in contention for the top job in Wollongong, while Shellharbour has a two-horse race on its hands.
Kiama's mayor will be determined by the elected councillors at a future meeting.
Your candidates in the Illawarra:
Among Wollongong's candidates the most common issues identified as priorities are planning and development, affordable housing, and traffic congestion, a Mercury survey has revealed.
Similarly in Shellharbour, planning and development and affordable housing are also common priorities for prospective councillors, as are coastal erosion and greening the Illawarra.
Planning and development appears to be a top priority among Kiama's candidates too, alongside parking in the CBD.
The issues:
- Kiama council's financial position a hot election issue
- Council candidates sing in chorus on Killalea as green issues emerge
- The planning and development issues Wollongong candidates want to address
- Traffic problems a priority, Wollongong's prospective councillors say
- Opinion: Battle for Wollongong's top job a two-horse race
- Free parking in the CBD? Wollongong mayoral candidates' verdict
- Liberal council candidates announce plans to axe Wollongong parking meters
- Wollongong candidates' plans to encourage electric vehicles, walking
- Should you pay to use Dapto pool? The Greens say no
- A free shuttle to Dapto part of Labor's plan to Wollongong
The election will be held on December 4 but pre-polling is already open, with several venues open each across the Illawarra until Friday.
People with impaired vision or other disabilities, silent electors, those who live more than 20 kilometres from a polling place and those who will not be in their council area on election day can also choose to vote online or with the assistance of a telephone operator.
COVID precautions will be in place at polling places, including mandatory masks.
Voters are also encouraged to bring their own pens, although single-use pens will be provided.
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