Ku-ring-gai Council Report 2008 Local Government Elections REPORT ON THE 2008 LOCAL GOVERNMENT ELECTIONS KU-RING-GAI COUNCIL General Manager Ku-ring-gai Council Locked Bag 1056 Pymble NSW 2073 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 Ku-ring-gai Council. Yours sincerely Colin Barry Electoral Commissioner 31 August 2009 REPORT ON THE 2008 LOCAL GOVERNMENT ELECTIONS KU-RING-GAI COUNCIL 2 Contents LIST OF TABLES ...................................................................................................................... 4 LIST OF GRAPHS.................................................................................................................... 5 THE 2008 LOCAL GOVERNMENT ELECTIONS ....................................................................... 8 2008 KU-RING-GAI COUNCIL ELECTIONS......................................................................... 15 ELECTION PREPARATION.................................................................................................... 18 CONDUCT OF THE ELECTIONS ........................................................................................... 37 ELECTION CONCLUSION.................................................................................................... 66 FUTURE DIRECTION ............................................................................................................. 79 APPENDICES....................................................................................................................... 84 REPORT ON THE 2008 LOCAL GOVERNMENT ELECTIONS KU-RING-GAI COUNCIL 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 (%)......................................................................................................................................... 22 Table 4: 2008 Local Government Elections Returning Officer Office Satisfaction – NSW (%) .................................................................................................................................................. 28 Table 5: 2008 Local Government Elections Returning Officer Training Satisfaction – NSW (%)......................................................................................................................................... 31 Table 6: 2008 Local Government Elections Polling Place Manager Satisfaction with Training – NSW (%)....................................................................................................................... 32 Table 7: 2008 Local Government Elections Election Official Satisfaction with Training – NSW (%)......................................................................................................................................... 32 Table 8: 2008 Local Government Elections Candidate Information Satisfaction – NSW (%) .................................................................................................................................................. 33 Table 9: 2008 Local Government Elections NSWEC advertising expenditure, $M – NSW ........................................................................................................................................................ 34 Table 10: 2008 Local Government Elections Election Arrangements – NSW.................. 39 Table 11: 2008 Local Government Elections Statewide Candidates by Registered Political Party ............................................................................................................................... 41 Table 12: By-elections by council, vacancies, candidates and enrolled electors, Saturday, 29 November 2008................................................................................................... 43 Table 13: 2008 Local Government Elections Categories of Election Staff – NSW and Ku-ring-gai Council..................................................................................................................... 47 Table 14: 2008 Local Government Elections Pre-poll Voting Centre Details.................. 48 Table 15: 2008 Local Government Elections Satisfaction with Pre-poll Voting Centres – NSW (%)......................................................................................................................................... 49 Table 16: 2008 Local Government Elections Satisfaction with the Pre-poll Voting Process – NSW (%)....................................................................................................................... 49 Table 17: 2008 Local Government Elections Satisfaction with Postal Voting Process – NSW Overall (%) .......................................................................................................................... 50 Table 18: 2008 Local Government Elections Electors’ Satisfaction with Polling Place Voting – NSW (%)......................................................................................................................... 54 Table 19: 2008 Local Government Elections Satisfaction with Polling Places – NSW Overall (%).................................................................................................................................... 55 Table 20: 2008 Local Government Elections Voter Participation ..................................... 59 Table 21: 2008 Local Government Elections Results information satisfaction – NSW (%) ........................................................................................................................................................ 61 Table 22: 2008 Local Government Elections Non-voter Statistics Comparisons............ 63 Table 23: 2008 Local Government Elections Non-voters by Region and Gender ........ 63 Table 24: 2008 Local Government Elections Media Information Satisfaction – NSW (%) ........................................................................................................................................................ 66 Table 25: 2008 Local Government Elections Survey Participation ................................... 67 Table 26: 2008 Local Government Elections Returning Officer Satisfaction – NSW (%)70 Table 27: 2008 Local Government Elections Major Expenditure Items for NSW and Ku- ring-gai Council........................................................................................................................... 74 Table 28: NSWEC Corporate Plan Measures and 2008 Local Government Elections Outcomes..................................................................................................................................... 77 REPORT ON THE 2008 LOCAL GOVERNMENT ELECTIONS KU-RING-GAI COUNCIL 4 List of Graphs Graph 1: 2008 Local Government Elections Elector Inquiry Centre Call Volumes ....... 19 Graph 2: 2008 Local Government Elections Elector Inquiry Centre, Nature of Calls... 20 Graph 3: 2008 Local Government Elections TIS National calls received by language. July – December 2008 ............................................................................................................... 25 Graph 4: 2008 Local Government Elections Age Range of Candidates ....................... 40 Graph 5: 2008 Local Government Elections Metropolitan and Rural Candidates Breakdown by Gender.............................................................................................................. 41 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 ............................................................................................................ 64 Graph 8: 2008 Local Government Elections Statewide Valid Reasons for Failing to Vote............................................................................................................................................... 65 Graph 9: 2008 Local Government Elections Election costs – Number of Electors by Location........................................................................................................................................ 75 REPORT ON THE 2008 LOCAL GOVERNMENT ELECTIONS KU-RING-GAI COUNCIL 5 Ku-ring-gai Council 2008 Election Summary - Uncontested Enrolment Total Electors 74,414 Female Electors 52.6% Male Electors 47.4% At the 13 September 2008 Local Government elections Wahroonga Ward was uncontested. Successful Candidates Ku-ring-gai Wahroonga Ward CROSS, Ian EBBECK, Nick REPORT ON THE 2008 LOCAL GOVERNMENT ELECTIONS KU-RING-GAI COUNCIL 6 Ku-ring-gai Council 2008 Election Summary - Contested Polling Booths Pre-poll Voting Centres 1 Polling Places 26 Election Officials 232 Voter Participation Formal Votes 46,105 Informal Votes 3,048 Total Votes 49,153 Voter Participation 83.1% Rate of Informality 6.2% Voting Methods Electors used Ordinary 39,528 Postal 2,430 Pre-poll 3,650 Declared Institution 333 Section 23 Silent 141 Councillor Election Total Candidates 21 Female Candidates 10 Male Candidates 11 Successful Candidates Ku-ring-gai Comenarra Ward MALICKI, Elaine HOLLAND, Steven Ku-ring-gai Gordon Ward SZATOW, Cheryl KEAYS, Elise Ku-ring-gai Roseville Ward ANDERSON, Jennifer