The Western Australian Electoral Commission has investigated reports that a small number of postal voting packages delivered to City of Joondalup electors, particularly in the South West and North Central Wards, have included compilation errors. In some instances, either the Mayoral or Councillor ballot paper is missing, while in others there are two of one type of ballot paper and none of the other.
The printing and mailing house contracted to produce these packages has advised that these instances arose through human error when the machine operator was remedying inserting machine jams. The procedures adopted when this occurs will be reviewed and where necessary changed as part of a post-election contract review.
While it is evident that the problem exists in only a small number of the over 115,000 packages compiled and posted to City of Joondalup electors, the Commission deeply regrets any inconvenience this may have caused affected electors.
Affected electors are advised that if they are missing a ballot paper, they can seek a replacement at the City of Joondalup Council Office during normal business hours or between 8.00am and 6.00pm of election day, Saturday 16 October 2021.
In instances where an elector has received two ballot papers of the same type, the second ballot paper should be destroyed. Where an envelope containing two completed ballot papers of the same type is returned to the Commission, a maximum of only one can be accepted and included in the count. It is not possible however for an elector who has already voted and returned their package to obtain a ballot paper that they believe may have been missing.
Importantly, in accordance with the provisions of the Local Government Act 1995, the election in each ward must be allowed to run its course and a result determined. The capacity then exists for any person dissatisfied with the result or the way in which the election was conducted to make an invalidity complaint to a Court of Disputed Returns within 28 days after notice has been given of the election result.
Electors who require further information regarding this matter may contact the Commission's local government elections Call Centre on 1300 661 136.
Robert Kennedy
Electoral Commissioner, 6 October 2021