Ballot boxes scrapped as council poll goes postal
SOUTHERN Downs voters will be spared the pain of trying to get to a ballot box, with the 2016 council election to be held as a postal vote.
An application by the Southern Downs Regional Council to conduct the poll by full postal vote has been approved by Minister for Local Government Jackie Trad.
The timing of the vote could cause some headaches, with the poll falling on the Warwick Show weekend.
The day before the election on March 19 will be a show holiday for residents in the Warwick town area.
Councillors have expressed their concerns on the impact of the show holiday, voting to advise the department of the importance of having electoral staff available on the day.
Postal voting had been in doubt before the change of State Government, with the previous Local Government Minister ruling it out earlier this year.
A postal vote could save the council tens of thousands of dollars.
Earlier this year councillors voiced concerns that conducting a poll by ballot box would be double the cost of postal voting.
