Liberal and National volunteers were told to pack up camp and move back to the street front, after allegedly disturbing local detectives as pre-polling places opened on Monday.
Regular local Liberal volunteers Jo and Jean Starcevich were handing out how to vote cards at the Esperance Court House’s pre-polling station, and were surprised when a local electoral officer told them and two Nationals volunteers to move on.
According to the Electoral Commission regulation, volunteers at pre-polling stations are required to maintain a six-metre boundary from the location where voters cast their ballots.
Ms Starcevich said at previous elections when the polling was held at the Court House they were allowed to stand inside the building – maintaining six metres from the ballot box rather than the building itself.
However, according to the volunteer, the local electoral officer said this wasn’t the case.
Nationals volunteer and upper house candidate for the agricultural region Colin de Grussa said it seemed each electoral officer interpreted rules surrounding local polling stations differently.
Mr de Grussa said both him and Nationals volunteer Henry Webb had attended a briefing through the Electoral Commission earlier in the year and fully understood the ruling around proximity to the polling station.
He also stated that other than campaign signs and banners for the candidates there was no indication the Court House was a pre-polling location.
The only sign the Electoral Commission had up was small, on the door of the Court House and was put up by Mr de Grussa.
A spokesperson for the Electoral Commission said they understood there were concerns about noise affecting neighbouring tenancies.
“We also understand that campaign workers are still able to hand out ballot material and are doing so,” a spokesperson stated.
Esperance Police senior sergeant Richard Moore said no official move on notices were issued to local volunteers and declined further comment on the matter.
More than 30 early voting centres are open throughout the state to meet elector demand, which is expected to be high.
A list of locations is available on the Electoral Commission’s website www.elections.wa.gov.au or for the Esperance region – located on the map below.
Postal vote applications can also be lodged directly via the website, with application forms also available at local post offices.
Assistance for electors is available via the elections helpline 13 63 06.
