Remoteness 'a challenge' for voters

The WA Electoral Commission will increase remote polling locations for next year’s State general election by 40 per cent to improve access for voters in remote WA.

WAEC electoral commissioner Warwick Gately said remoteness was a challenge in the North West and, while access to services was improving with technology and transport, people in remote areas still found it more difficult to mail forms or visit polling places than voters elsewhere in the State.

With the March 9 election looming, WAEC figures showed a third of Broome residents eligible could miss the chance to vote for failing to register.

As of October 3, there were 7394 electors on the State electoral roll in the Broome Shire, with a total of 16,047 electors across the Kimberley.

But, based on Australian Bureau of Statistics figures, there could be another 3500 people who were not on the roll.