8 October 2002

The Cunningham pre-poll voting centre opened today for Cunningham electors who will be unable to cast a vote on polling day.

The pre-poll centre is located at Shop 3, 60 Burelli St, Wollongong and is open Monday to Friday from 9am to 5pm.

The Divisional Returning Officer for Cunningham, Mrs Ann Cass said if electors were eligible there were a number of ways for them to have their say before polling day.

Electors are eligible to cast a pre-poll vote or apply for a postal vote if on polling day they:

• will be outside the federal Division of Cunningham
• are approaching motherhood
• are seriously ill or caring for someone who is
• are unable to vote because of religious beliefs
• are unable to leave work.

Pre-poll votes for the Cunningham by-election can also be cast at any AEC divisional office around Australia, Monday to Friday from 9am to 5pm.

Electors who wish to apply for a postal vote can pick up a postal vote application form at any post office, AEC office, print one from the AEC website www.aec.gov.au/cunningham or ring the AEC on 13 23 26 to get one sent out to them.

Mrs Cass said that it was essential that completed postal votes were in the mail back to the AEC by Friday 18 October 2002.

"I encourage electors to call the AEC on 13 23 26 if they have any questions about voting in the Cunningham by-election," she said.

Polling day for the Cunningham by-election is Saturday 19 October 2002.

Further information

Ann Cass	Susan Gibb
Divisional Returning Officer	Manager Media and Information
for Cunningham	Phone: (02) 9375 6318
Phone - (02) 4226 0299	Mobile: 0413 274 800