State Election 2017
Meet your next State representative By Greg Brown
It’s hard not to notice that an election is on the way. Corflute signs along the roads, banners along fences, flyers in the letterbox, adverts in the paper... but who are all these candidates beyond a face and a slogan? If you’d like to meet them face to face and hear directly from them what they can offer, next Wednesday is the perfect opportunity before you have to vote for them on Saturday November 25. Glasshouse Country & Maleny News is organising an informal ‘meet the candidates’ evening at the Glasshouse Mountains Sports Club, Wednesday November 22, 5.30pm – 7pm. All four candidates standing for the electorate of Caloundra Rod Jones – One Nation; Jason Hunt – ALP; Marcus Finch – Greens; and Mark McArdle – LNP and all five in the electorate of Glass House Tracey Bell-Henselin – One Nation; Andrew Powell – LNP; Sue Mureau – Independent; Brent Hampstead – ALP; and Sue Weber – Greens will be there. The format is not like the usual drawn out (yawn) pre-election evening where candidates bang on endlessly or answer a couple of set questions with set answers, mostly just repeating what each other says. Each candidate will give you a rundown of who they are, what they stand for and what they see as the important issues for the region. Then there’ll be an information booth style opportunity to look at what they can offer, and meet with each candidate and ask them questions you’d like answered. So put a face (and body) to a name (and slogan) and get down to the Glasshouse Mountains Sports Club next Wednesday evening, November 22 from 5.30pm (til 7pm). The bar will be open, which is another good reason to come along.
Make your vote count At this election (November 25), you’ll be asked to number every box on the ballot paper – this is called ‘full preferential voting’. You number each candidate in order of who you prefer to win, from your top pick (number one) to your last pick. There will be instructions at the polling booth and on the ballot paper itself. If you have any questions, you can always just ask one of the Electoral Commission Queensland staff inside the polling station. If a ballot paper is not completed correctly it is called an informal vote. An informal vote is unable to be counted and does not contribute towards determining the election result. Some reasons a ballot paper is informal are because: it is blank or unmarked; ticks or crosses have been used when numbering in order of preferences is required; the required number of boxes have not been marked; or it has writing on it which identifies the elector. And don’t write comments on the ballot paper. You might think them witty, poignant or cutting, but no one really cares. The vote counters just count the votes, they don’t take notice of the comments and they aren’t seen by anyone who you might be directing the comments at. There are three main ways you can vote. Pre-poll voting is where you cast your ballot before the election day at one of the pre-polling stations. Locally these are at Shop 3, 15 Maple Street, Maleny; 68 Peachester Road, Beerwah (both Glass House and Caloundra electorates); and 37 Bowman Road, Caloundra. They are all open November 13-17 and November 20-23 from 9am-5pm, and November 24 from 9am-6pm. Postal voting is where you apply to the Electoral Commission of Queensland (ECQ) and are send a voting ballot which you fill out and post back to them. This can be organised via the ECQ website, www.ecq.qld.gov.au, or by calling them on 1300 881 665. Or you can turn up at any of the polling booths on November 25 – election day – and fill out the ballot paper there. Polling booths are open from 8am and close at 6pm. Look for their locations in next week’s GC&M News edition. To ensure that all electors have an equal opportunity to vote and are not disadvantaged because of personal circumstance, disability or language, the ECQ can help. Just call them on 1300 881 665.
More than just faces and slogans Informal ‘Meet the Candidates Night’ Candidates from both Glass House and Caloundra Electorates Where: Glasshouse Mountains Sports Club Caloundra Electorate - Sports Bar Glass House Electorate - Function Room
When: Wednesday, November 22 Time: 5.30pm – 7.00pm Cost: FREE RSVP:
Event organised by 10
reception@gcnews.com.au Supported by Glasshouse Country Chamber of Commerce and Maleny Commerce
Glasshouse Country & Maleny News