Page 36 - Conducting Elections during COVID-19

18 INTERNATIONAL EXPERIENCES OF CONDUCTING ELECTIONS DURING COVID-19

Campaigning at polling places

Eden-Monaro by-election: The NSW Department
of Health has developed campaign guidance for
political campaign staff and volunteers for this by-
election. The provision of campaign advice from
the Department of Health is due to the COVID-19
pandemic.

The AEC has no legislative jurisdiction or responsibility for campaigners outside six metres of the
entrance to the polling place. We acknowledge that the current COVID-19 environment may impact on
their ability to hand our how-to-vote cards as they ordinarily would for any other federal electoral event.
Parties and candidates will need to ensure that those campaigning on their behalf near a polling venue
have fully informed themselves of NSW Government health restrictions and laws in place regarding
social distancing, and that they abide by these directives.
Acknowledging the challenges faced by parties and candidates for this by-election, the AEC has
decided to assist parties and candidates by seeking to collect the details of all candidates’ official
campaign website addresses at the time of nomination. The AEC will provide a link to these websites
through AEC website with candidate’s details.
Counting on election night at polling places

The operating model for this by-election is based on social distancing and hygiene measures
implemented during the count on by-election night and at the by-election count centre in the days
afterwards. These measures, which aimed at protecting the community, will mean the counting of
votes will take longer.

The expected increase in postal and pre-poll votes cast would also impact the speed of the
count, noting the legislative requirement to wait 13 days after by-election day for the return
of postal votes. As a result, it is likely to take longer to formally declare a final result in this
by-election compared with previous federal by-elections but, as per our normal practice,
the AEC will do everything possible to provide an indicative result on polling night.
After 6PM, when the counting commences at polling places, hand sanitizer for all polling place officials
and scrutineers will be at the polling place entry point, at each sorting and counting table, and at the
exit to the polling place.

Ballot boxes will be cleaned with sanitizing spray before they are opened for counting on the tables.
Staff will sanitize their hands immediately before and after they handle ballot-box tags.
Surgical masks may be worn by both staff and scrutineers, and no sharing of bibs or lanyards will be
allowed. If practicable, “sneeze shields” may be used at each counting and sorting table to separate
scrutineers from counting staff.

There will be signs outlining the hygiene and social distancing rules, and those who do not adhere to
the rules will be requested to leave.

The area used for polling and counting at each polling place will be fully cleaned after election night.
The area used for polling and counting at each polling place will be fully cleaned after election night.