I WISH to correct a story in the Redland City Bulletin, November 19, entitled "Council denies electors postal voting option" relating to postal voting at the 2016 Local Government election.
This article incorrectly implies that postal voting will not be an option at the 2016 election.
Council wishes to reassure residents that their voting options for the 2016 election remain the same as previous elections and will continue to include pre-polling, absentee voting and postal voting.
These options are a right under the Local Government Electoral Act 2011.
At its general meeting on November 12, the council discussed the possibility of a full postal vote for the city's islands at the next election, which would have meant every island resident would be sent their ballot paper through the mail with a reply paid envelope.
This option would have meant the entire election would have been a "postal election", with no polling booths on the islands to visit on election day and vote.
After consideration, the council voted against this option and also confirmed that it did not want to seek a full postal ballot across the entire city.
This means that the 2016 election will be run as it has been conducted in the past, allowing people to use pre-polling, absentee voting, vote in person at polling booths or use postal voting, if eligible to do so.
The council's decision means residents retain all possible options for voting in the 2016 Local government elections.
Nick Clarke,
Redland City Council
general manager
organisational services
