By JO HARRISON
NOMINATIONS closed last Thursday 9 May at 12 noon for the Northern Tablelands by-election to held on 25 May.
After nominations closed, Returning Officer Peter Dooley and staff conducted a secure ballot in accordance with NSW Electoral Commission procedure to randomly select candidates for their position on the ballot paper.
Official positions are: 1. Bill Bush (Independent); 2. Adam Marshall (Nationals); 3. Dora Koops (Greens); 4. Herman Beyersdorf (Country Labor); 5. Katherine Nicholson (Independent); 6. Jim Maher (Independent) and 7. Nero Silvana (Christian Democratic Party, Fred Nile Group).
Country Labor candidate Herman Beyersdorf was one of a few candidates in attendance and said that the position on the ballot paper usually mattered in the potential for donkey votes.
“Everybody talks about and hopes for the donkey vote but quite frankly I don’t think there are that many donkeys in the electorate,” Mr Beyersdorf said.
“I think 99 per cent of voters in this electorate are discerning voters who look for the person they want on the ballot paper – I don’t think it will make much difference.
“I feel it is almost symbolic where I am right in the middle, in many ways I am a man of the middle so either way it is quite a good draw.”
On election day polling places are open between 8am and 6pm. Voting is compulsory for all people on the electoral roll in the electoral district of Northern Tablelands. Postal vote applications will be accepted up until 6pm on Wednesday, 22 May. You can apply for a postal vote at www.elections.nsw.gov.au or by contacting the Returning Officer.
Early voting is available from Monday, 13 May to Friday, 24 May at the RO office – 2/206 Beardy Street Armidale, Monday, 13 May to Friday, 17 May – 8am to 6pm; Saturday, 18 May – 9am to 5pm; Monday, 20 May to Wednesday, 22 May – 8am to 6pm; Thursday, 23 May – 8am to 8pm and Friday, 24 May – 8am to 6pm.
