A Council casual vacancy was created late last year, due to Local Government Act rules and regulations around a councillor’s missed ordinary council meetings and a by-election will be held.
Voter ballot material will be delivered to electors by post from January 30 to February 2.
Then councillor Sarina Laidler believed an apology was sufficient when she was unable to attend three consecutive ordinary council meetings when her late husband needed emergency medical treatment.
The Act requires a leave of absence request, motioned, and accepted by councillors.
Ms Laidler was removed from office in December. This has created a casual vacancy on King Island Council.
If a vacancy cannot be filled by a recount, as in this case, there will be a by-election.
For council by-elections, in accordance with section 308 of the Act, the Electoral Commissioner fixes the closing day, and, in consultation with the general manager of the Council, sets the day the notice of the by-election is advertised, the nomination period and the close of rolls.
Ms Laidler indicated when the council vacancy was declared that she planned to nominate again for the council seat.
Local government election voting is compulsory, and it is a postal ballot. Voting papers will be posted to the voter’s roll-registered address.
The TEC advises if you are currently on the electoral roll, you are automatically on the local government roll for the municipal area (council) in which your enrolled address is located. You are also eligible to be on the local government roll if:
You own or occupy land in a municipal area different from where you are enrolled on the state electoral roll, or
You are the nominated representative of a corporate body that owns or occupies land in the municipal area.
To enrol under these special provisions, you need to complete the appropriate enrolment form and return it to the General Manager. For more information, to check your enrolment details, or to complete the local government enrolment form, please visit: Local government elections enrolment tec.tas.gov.au