Council backs postal ballot
Local residents might consider sharpening their ballot pencils now ahead of the Town of Port Hedland elections to be held this October.
The council's elections happen every two years on the third Saturday in October, with the last elections held in 2013.
In preparation, Town councillors are tonight expected to vote in favour of enabling the WA Electoral Commission to run the elections and to establish two polling stations.
These are planned to be at the Civic Centre in Port Hedland and Lotteries House in South Hedland.
Town staff also recommended holding a postal election again, in which ballot papers are posted out to residents, who can return their votes by post or in person on polling day.
Town governance co-ordinator Josephine Bianchi wrote in her report for the council "a postal method of conducting elections is more convenient for electors and typically achieves a higher rate of voter participation".
In the 2013 postal election, 2052 of the 5822 enrolled residents cast their votes.
