Remote voting in 2007 election starts
The veranda of an outpost shack was today the place where some of the first votes were cast in the 2007 federal election.
Proving that geographical remoteness is no barrier to taking part in the country’s democratic process, Australian Electoral Commission (AEC) officials set up a polling booth at Kybrook Farm in the Northern Territory, allowing surrounding residents to cast their vote at the remote location north of Katherine.
A total of 37 mobile polling teams will visit over 390 remote locations around Australiain the two weeks leading up to election day.
Electoral Commissioner, Ian Campbell, said the AEC was travelling by road, air and sea to reach remote outstations, pastoral properties, small towns, tourist resorts and mine sites in the Northern Territory, New South Wales, Western Australia, South Australia and Queensland.
“Local assistants will be recruited to identify, interpret for and assist with the special needs of indigenous electors at many of the remote mobile polling locations.”
The remote mobile polling service will offer electors interstate voting services.
Remote mobile polling visits will be advertised through posters, newspapers, radio, television and letters sent to community organisations.
Electors can find out when a mobile polling team will be visiting their community by contacting their local community council, calling the AEC on 13 23 26 or visiting the AEC website at www.aec.gov.au.
Media contacts:
Phil Diak
Director Media and Communication Strategy
Ph. (02) 6271 4415
Mobile: 0413 452 539
