Tyler Redway
LIMESTONE Coast early voting centres opened to the public last week, for those who may be unable to vote in the federal election on May 21.
Numbers for the first day were steady but are also expected to climb over time after more people were informed of early voting.
Queensland traveller Kevin Doble, who cast his vote two weeks early due to being away from his hometown, said it was his first time voting outside of his own state.
“We weren’t quite sure how it was going to be so we thought we would get in two weeks early,” Mr Doble said.
“It was so simple, the staff were great and it all worked well.”
As with the State election earlier in the year, the early voting centre reopened at 30 James Street while the Naracoorte centre relocated to the Naracoorte Senior Citizens Club on 46 Sandstone Avenue.
While the Mount Gambier centre opened at the beginning of this week, the Naracoorte branch remains closed until tomorrow at 9am.
Polling times for both branches can be found on the Australian Electoral Commission’s website.
Early voting is available to those outside the electorate where they are enrolled to vote, are more than 8km from a polling place, are travelling, are unable to leave their workplace to vote, are seriously ill, infirm or due to give birth shortly, are a patient in hospital and can’t vote at the hospital, have religious beliefs that prevent you from attending a polling place, are in prison serving a sentence of less than three years or otherwise detained, are a silent elector or have a reasonable fear for your safety or wellbeing.
Additional measures of Covid-19 safety may be required such as hand sanitiser and social distancing when required according to the AEC Covid-19 safety measures.
Postal voters were able to obtain a pack from April 26 while applications for postal votes are set to close on May 18, 2022.
