The Council of the Municipality of Ashfield Report 2008 Local Government Elections REPORT ON THE 2008 LOCAL GOVERNMENT ELECTIONS THE COUNCIL OF THE MUNICIPALITY OF ASHFIELD General Manager The Council of the Municipality of Ashfield PO Box 1145 Ashfield NSW 1800 Dear General Manager I am pleased to present to you a report on the conduct and administration of the 2008 Local Government Elections held for The Council of the Municipality of Ashfield. Yours sincerely Colin Barry Electoral Commissioner 31 August 2009 REPORT ON THE 2008 LOCAL GOVERNMENT ELECTIONS THE COUNCIL OF THE MUNICIPALITY OF ASHFIELD 2 Contents LIST OF TABLES ...................................................................................................................... 4 LIST OF GRAPHS.................................................................................................................... 5 THE 2008 LOCAL GOVERNMENT ELECTIONS ....................................................................... 8 2008 THE COUNCIL OF THE MUNICIPALITY OF ASHFIELD ELECTIONS............................... 15 ELECTION PREPARATION.................................................................................................... 19 CONDUCT OF THE ELECTIONS ........................................................................................... 38 ELECTION CONCLUSION.................................................................................................... 67 FUTURE DIRECTION ............................................................................................................. 80 APPENDICES....................................................................................................................... 85 REPORT ON THE 2008 LOCAL GOVERNMENT ELECTIONS THE COUNCIL OF THE MUNICIPALITY OF ASHFIELD 3 List of Tables Table 1: 2008 Local Government Elections Due, Contested and Uncontested ............. 9 Table 2: 2008 Local Government Elections, Results of Referenda Questions, Frequencies. ................................................................................................................................ 16 Table 3: 2008 Local Government Elections Braille Ballot paper, Elector Satisfaction – NSW (%)......................................................................................................................................... 23 Table 4: 2008 Local Government Elections Returning Officer Office Satisfaction – NSW (%) .................................................................................................................................................. 29 Table 5: 2008 Local Government Elections Returning Officer Training Satisfaction – NSW (%)......................................................................................................................................... 32 Table 6: 2008 Local Government Elections Polling Place Manager Satisfaction with Training – NSW (%)....................................................................................................................... 33 Table 7: 2008 Local Government Elections Election Official Satisfaction with Training – NSW (%)......................................................................................................................................... 33 Table 8: 2008 Local Government Elections Candidate Information Satisfaction – NSW (%) .................................................................................................................................................. 34 Table 9: 2008 Local Government Elections NSWEC advertising expenditure, $M – NSW ........................................................................................................................................................ 35 Table 10: 2008 Local Government Elections Election Arrangements – NSW.................. 40 Table 11: 2008 Local Government Elections Statewide Candidates by Registered Political Party ............................................................................................................................... 42 Table 12: By-elections by council, vacancies, candidates and enrolled electors, Saturday, 29 November 2008................................................................................................... 44 Table 13: 2008 Local Government Elections Categories of Election Staff – NSW and The Council of the Municipality of Ashfield........................................................................... 48 Table 14: 2008 Local Government Elections Pre-poll Voting Centre Details.................. 49 Table 15: 2008 Local Government Elections Satisfaction with Pre-poll Voting Centres – NSW (%)......................................................................................................................................... 50 Table 16: 2008 Local Government Elections Satisfaction with the Pre-poll Voting Process – NSW (%)....................................................................................................................... 50 Table 17: 2008 Local Government Elections Satisfaction with Postal Voting Process – NSW Overall (%) .......................................................................................................................... 51 Table 18: 2008 Local Government Elections Electors’ Satisfaction with Polling Place Voting – NSW (%)......................................................................................................................... 56 Table 19: 2008 Local Government Elections Satisfaction with Polling Places – NSW Overall (%).................................................................................................................................... 56 Table 20: 2008 Local Government Elections Voter Participation ..................................... 60 Table 21: 2008 Local Government Elections Results information satisfaction – NSW (%) ........................................................................................................................................................ 62 Table 22: 2008 Local Government Elections Non-voter Statistics Comparisons............ 63 Table 23: 2008 Local Government Elections Non-voters by Region and Gender ........ 64 Table 24: 2008 Local Government Elections Media Information Satisfaction – NSW (%) ........................................................................................................................................................ 67 Table 25: 2008 Local Government Elections Survey Participation ................................... 68 Table 26: 2008 Local Government Elections Returning Officer Satisfaction – NSW (%)71 Table 27: 2008 Local Government Elections Major Expenditure Items for NSW and The Council of the Municipality of Ashfield. ................................................................................. 75 Table 28: NSWEC Corporate Plan Measures and 2008 Local Government Elections Outcomes..................................................................................................................................... 78 REPORT ON THE 2008 LOCAL GOVERNMENT ELECTIONS THE COUNCIL OF THE MUNICIPALITY OF ASHFIELD 4 List of Graphs Graph 1: 2008 Local Government Elections Elector Inquiry Centre Call Volumes ....... 20 Graph 2: 2008 Local Government Elections Elector Inquiry Centre, Nature of Calls... 21 Graph 3: 2008 Local Government Elections TIS National calls received by language. July – December 2008 ............................................................................................................... 26 Graph 4: 2008 Local Government Elections Age Range of Candidates ....................... 41 Graph 5: 2008 Local Government Elections Metropolitan and Rural Candidates Breakdown by Gender.............................................................................................................. 42 Graph 6: 2008 Local Government Elections Non-Voters by Age and Gender – NSW 64 Graph 7: 2008 Local Government Elections Statewide Enrolment, Voter Total and Non-Voter Total by Age ............................................................................................................ 65 Graph 8: 2008 Local Government Elections Statewide Valid Reasons for Failing to Vote............................................................................................................................................... 66 Graph 9: 2008 Local Government Elections Election costs – Number of Electors by Location........................................................................................................................................ 76 REPORT ON THE 2008 LOCAL GOVERNMENT ELECTIONS THE COUNCIL OF THE MUNICIPALITY OF ASHFIELD 5 The Council of the Municipality of Ashfield 2008 Election Summary Enrolment Total Electors 25,615 Female Electors 52.4% Male Electors 47.6% Polling Booths Pre-poll Voting Centres 1 Polling Places 17 Election Officials 91 Voter Participation Formal Votes 20,173 Informal Votes 1,120 Total Votes 21,293 Voter Participation 83.1% Rate of Informality 5.3% Voting Methods Electors used Ordinary 17,681 Postal 993 Pre-poll 1,376 Declared Institution 84 Section 19 Silent 20 Councillor Election Total Candidates 51 Female Candidates 27 Male Candidates 24 Successful Candidates Ashfield East Ward STOTT, Caroline KELSO, Patrick LOFTS, Alex REPORT ON THE 2008 LOCAL GOVERNMENT ELECTIONS THE COUNCIL OF THE MUNICIPALITY OF ASHFIELD 6 Ashfield North Ward WANGMANN, Monica WANG, Mei ADAMS, Nick Ashfield North East Ward CASSIDY, Ted KENNEDY, Lyall McKENNA, Lucille Ashfield