2017 MidCoast Council Election in the Myall Coast region

Bulahdelah Polling Place Manager Meredith Rae with candidate James Hooke.
Bulahdelah Polling Place Manager Meredith Rae with candidate James Hooke.

 

MYALL Coast residents went to the polls last Saturday to elect the first ever group of MidCoast Councillors for the new amalgamated Council.

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In a hive of activity, candidate supporters in colourful campaign shirts were out in force, handing out how to vote cards and greeting the stream of voters as they arrived at polling places around the region.

Although some residents said they experienced long queues, election officials at both Tea Gardens and Bulahdelah said the constant flow of voters during the morning was as expected.

“We were very busy mid-morning, mainly between 10-11am when the maximum wait in line was about 20 minutes,” the Bulahdelah Polling Place Manager said.

“We have had no problems throughout the day, it has all flowed well.”

First-time voter, 18-year-old Tim To, said he was a little overwhelmed at the size of the crowd when he arrived at the Tea Gardens Polling Place during the peak time.

“The people waiting in the line behind me were awesome, they kept me calm and explained the procedure,” Tim said.

“It felt good being considered an adult and finally having the responsibility to have a say on who will represent us.”

Counting at each of the 49 polling places in the MidCoast region commenced directly after the polls closed at 6pm on election night.

The Tea Gardens Polling Booth Manager estimated counting the first preference votes would take his team up to three hours to complete.

“Once the tallies are run, we phone our count through to the MidCoast returning officer in Forster,” he said.

The ballot papers will be sent to a central location this week to be entered online and preferences distributed.

According to the NSW Electoral Commission, 72,723 people were enrolled to vote in the 2017 MidCoast Council election.

 

First-time voter Tim To casts his ballot in Tea Gardens.
First-time voter Tim To casts his ballot in Tea Gardens.

 

Liz McKay arrived to cast her vote in Tea Gardens with her dog Bella.
Liz McKay arrived to cast her vote in Tea Gardens with her dog Bella.

 

Carol and Les Tattersall cast their votes in Bulahdelah.
Carol and Les Tattersall cast their votes in Bulahdelah.

 

Georgina Cunich receives her ballot paper in Bulahdelah.
Georgina Cunich receives her ballot paper in Bulahdelah.

 

Group A Candidate Arthur Baker with Country Labor volunteer Craig Tate in Bulahdelah.
Group A Candidate Arthur Baker with Country Labor volunteer Craig Tate in Bulahdelah.

 

Stan Backhouse casts his vote in Tea Gardens.
Stan Backhouse casts his vote in Tea Gardens.

 

Bulahdelah residents exercise their democratic right.
Bulahdelah residents exercise their democratic right.

 

Ron and Barbara Lyle cast their votes in Tea Gardens.
Ron and Barbara Lyle cast their votes in Tea Gardens.

 

Country Labor volunteer Greg Jenkins and ‘Bell Team’ supporter John Pettit in Tea Gardens.
Country Labor volunteer Greg Jenkins and ‘Bell Team’ supporter John Pettit in Tea Gardens.

 

Candidate Carol McCaskie and daughter Brin at Tea Gardens.
Candidate Carol McCaskie and daughter Brin at Tea Gardens.

 

Stephanie Weeks receives a how to vote card from ‘A Team’ volunteer Marcia Dane in Tea Gardens.
Stephanie Weeks receives a how to vote card from ‘A Team’ volunteer Marcia Dane in Tea Gardens.

 

Eric Saville, Holly Ekert and Peter Aulbury distribute how to vote cards in Bulahdelah.
Eric Saville, Holly Ekert and Peter Aulbury distribute how to vote cards in Bulahdelah.

 

Georgina Cunich marks her ballot paper.
Georgina Cunich marks her ballot paper.

 

Georgina Cunich casts her vote in Bulahdelah.
Georgina Cunich casts her vote in Bulahdelah.

 

Tea Gardens residents turn out to exercise their democratic right.
Tea Gardens residents turn out to exercise their democratic right.

 

Robin Gregor casts her ballot in Tea Gardens.
Robin Gregor casts her ballot in Tea Gardens.

 

Brian Ede casts his vote in Bulahdelah.
Brian Ede casts his vote in Bulahdelah.

 

There was a hive of activity on election day at Bulahdelah Central School.
There was a hive of activity on election day at Bulahdelah Central School.

 

Tim To is eager to cast his vote in Tea Gardens.
Tim To is eager to cast his vote in Tea Gardens.

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