Page 46 - Conducting Elections during COVID-19

28 INTERNATIONAL EXPERIENCES OF CONDUCTING ELECTIONS DURING COVID-19

Purpose

The Electoral Commissioner is empowered under s200I of the Local Government Electoral Act
2011 and s392I of the Electoral Act 1992 to give a Direction about how, where or when how-to-
vote cards and/or other election material may be distributed or displayed at a polling booth for the
2020 Quadrennial local government elections and Bundamba and Currumbin State by-elections.

Rationale

On 19 March 2020, the Electoral Commissioner issued a general Direction applicable to all polling
booths in Queensland. A subsequent Direction was issued on 20 March 2020.

Due to the evolving circumstances, the Electoral Commissioner has issued this revised Direction
about the distribution and display of how-to-vote cards or election material at all polling booths in
Queensland to further minimise risks to the health and safety of persons caused by the public
health emergency involving COVID-19. The revised Direction repeals and replaces the earlier
Direction dated 20 March 2020.
Direction

The Electoral Commissioner hereby directs:
• All persons are prohibited from canvassing for votes or distributing how-to-vote cards or
election material at a polling booth. This applies to ALL polling booths in Queensland;
• All persons must abide by the social distancing rules for gatherings of less than 100 people;
• All persons attending a polling booth must maintain hygiene standards, in accordance with
Queensland Health guidelines;
• All persons must not shake hands, or attempt to shake hands, with electors as they are
entering or waiting to enter the polling booth;
• If candidates, political parties, or other electoral participants wish for their how-to-vote cards
and/or election material to be available to electors, the material must be provided to the
booth supervisor. The material will be displayed at the polling booth, in a way deemed
appropriate by the booth supervisor. A minimum requirement is that how-to-vote cards and
election material must be displayed in ballot paper order, as far as practicable;
• Any how-to-vote cards or election material to be displayed at a polling booth must be no
larger than A4 size, and can be double-sided (in which case, each page will be displayed
beside one another);
• Candidates, political parties or other electoral participants must not interfere or obstruct the
booth supervisor or other ECQ staff enacting this Direction;
• Candidates, political parties or other electoral participants must not interfere or remove how-
to-vote cards or election material once they are displayed by the booth supervisor or other
ECQ staff.
ECQ staff will be actively monitoring compliance with this Direction. The Electoral Commissioner
has the power to issue further directions, in the event ECQ staff observe non-compliance.
Failure to comply with this Direction carries a maximum penalty of 10 penalty units, currently valued
at $1,334.50.

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