ACT voters have been reminded that there will be a ban on canvassing within 100 metres of a polling place at the election on Saturday, the Electoral Commissioner, Phil Green, said today.

The Electoral Act 1992 prohibits canvassing near polling places, which includes influencing the vote of an elector, encouraging an elector not to vote and exhibiting electoral signs.

This means that political parties cannot hand out how-to-vote cards within a 100 metre perimeter of each polling place.

Each of the Polling Area Managers who oversee the operation of the 79 polling places to be used on October 18 has been issued with a roll of string exactly 100 metres long. In the event of a dispute about the 100 metre limit, the Polling Area Managers will determine the canvassing boundaries and the Officer-in-Charge of each polling place will enforce the boundary lines.

“By combining Robson rotation with the 100 metre ban, the ACT electoral system places responsibility in the hands of each elector and offers them the opportunity to consider each candidate and vote for candidates by name in the order of their choice,” Mr Green said.  “This means that voters might like to plan how they want to vote before going the polling place.  Sample ballot papers are available on the Elections ACT website.”

Residents received a copy of the ACT Electoral Commission’s official election guide in mailboxes last week, which listed the addresses of all 79 polling places.  A list of the polling places will also be advertised in Friday’s Canberra Times.  Saturday’s Canberra Times will include a full election guide, including the locations of polling places, an explanation of the Hare-Clark electoral system and sample ballot papers.

Phillip Green
Electoral Commissioner