Enrolment & Writ | Nominations & Candidates | Polling & Tally | After Polling Day
10 day period after polling day
There is a 10 day period after polling day for postal votes to return from overseas and interstate. During this period Returning Officers will organise formality rechecking on all ballot papers and progressively accept and process returning postal votes. For the 2010 House of Assembly elections, postal votes must be received by the Returning Officer no later than 10 am on Tuesday 30 March.
First preference votes for each candidate are then amalgamated before a final check of the ballot papers.
On the Monday before the final cut-off for postal votes, Returning Officers may commence a provisional distribution of the ballot papers received by candidates who have been elected on first preferences. Completing a provisional distribution of these ballot papers speeds up the scrutiny process.
Hare-Clark scrutiny
The Hare-Clark electoral system is a Single Transferable Vote method of proportional representation used in multi-member electorates. Single transferable vote means that a ballot paper moves between candidates as determined by the elector's preferences. Follow this link for a more detailed explanation of Hare-Clark.
Declaration of the poll
The Declaration of the Poll is a short ceremony at which the Returning Officer formally announces the successful candidates. Successful candidates are asked to speak, followed by other candidates present who may wish to do so. The Declaration of the Poll is open to candidates, the media and the public.
Following the declarations, the writs for all 5 divisions will be returned to His Excellency the Governor.
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