The name of the candidate elected to replace Mr Alistair Coe MLA, member for Yerrabi, in the ACT Legislative Assembly should be known by Thursday 25 March 2021, the ACT Electoral Commissioner, Mr Damian Cantwell AM CSC, announced today.

The Electoral Commissioner has received official notification of the casual vacancy from the Speaker of the Assembly, Ms Joy Burch MLA. Mr Alistair Coe formally resigned from the Assembly on Friday 12 March 2021.

“I am now able to outline the official timetable for filling the Legislative Assembly vacancy”, Mr Cantwell said.

Legislative Assembly vacancies are filled by conducting a ‘countback’ of those ballot papers that elected the vacating member.  In effect, those electors who voted for Mr Coe determine his replacement.

“To begin the countback process, an advertisement will appear today, Monday 15 March 2021, in The Canberra Times, inviting candidates who unsuccessfully stood in the Yerrabi electorate at the 2020 election to contest the vacancy.  Where practicable the Commission will also notify all those unsuccessful candidates directly,” Mr Cantwell said.

Those candidates now have ten days to indicate if they wish to contest the vacancy. Applications from candidates must be received by 12:00 noon on Thursday 25 March 2021.

“At 12:30 pm on 25 March 2021, the names of the candidates contesting the vacancy will be officially declared.  A computer counting program will then be used to determine which candidate will be elected to the Assembly to replace Mr Coe,” Mr Cantwell said.

It is expected that the official declaration of the result will take place the following Friday 26 March, at 3:00 pm.

Members of the media are invited to attend these two events. They will take place at the ACT Legislative Assembly, 196 London Circuit, Civic Square, Canberra City.