AFTER an unprecedented agreement, all Redland City Council candidates will not hand out election materials at pre-polling booths in a bid to prevent the spread of coronavirus.
Rather than having candidates or their volunteers handing out flyers or how to vote cards, candidates will be allowed to display two A-frame signs and election material.
It came after mayor Karen Williams wrote to the local Returning Officer to initiate a meeting with all candidates to discuss removing volunteers from polling booths.
"The current pandemic goes beyond individual candidates, elections or even politics more broadly," she said.
"We are facing extraordinary circumstances that require extraordinary measures.
"Residents are quite rightly concerned about attending polling booths, so now is not the time to have people lined up handing out material and jostling for position.
"We may all be competing against each other on election day, but this agreement means the community and common sense are the winners."
It was hoped a second agreement would be agreed to for election day.
"This will give voters the confidence to play their role in democracy without being approached by people trying to hand them material that may spread the coronavirus."
"It also gives people the perfect reason to cast their vote early and avoid election day itself when crowds are likely to be larger."
Cr Williams has also written to the electoral commission to request an online booking system be implemented to help spread voters out over election day.
"An online booking system would allow voters to book a one hour block to vote within, reducing the number of people at each polling both lining up waiting for their turn."