The early voting trend developed during the pandemic was shunned by Queenslanders at the March council election, with half a million more voters turning up on polling day than expected.
There were reports of lines up to three hours long, with staff at “a few polling places” reporting voters passed out while waiting.
Loading
This year, 45 per cent of all votes were cast on election day, which was a significant departure from the 35 per cent turnout the Electoral Commission of Queensland had anticipated, an independent review has found.
Commissioner Pat Vidgen said the figure was based on trend data and modelling of voter behaviour in recent elections in Queensland and interstate.
On election day, some polling places had turnout three times the number expected, leading to long, disorganised queues, frustration for voters and a “chaotic, stressful experience for staff”, the report said.
Some electoral staff said they worked 12 to 16-hour days without breaks and without access to food or water.
A small number of polling places temporarily ran out of ballot papers, leaving voters stuck in queues, unable to vote at their preferred place, or prompted to abandon voting entirely.
The report found evidence of ballot paper shortages in at least 39 polling places across eight council areas, while at least 18 polling places rant out at some point during the day.
But the report’s authors said it was unlikely issues with voting on the day led to the incorrect candidate being elected.
Source Agencies
