BY DAKOTA TAIT
The Electoral Commission says it will cover the cost of a second council election in Singleton, after a glitch in the online iVote system locked some voters out last December.
The Supreme Court threw out the results of the first election last month, in Singleton, as well as Kempsey and Shellharbour's Ward A.
19 councillors across the three councils will lose their jobs on May 3, meaning new elections will have to happen within three months.
Singleton Mayor Sue Moore's position is safe, but Deputy Mayor Tony Jarrett will have to challenge the election a second time.
He says the Electoral Commission's move is a relief.
"I know a lot of councillors and those that also ran put a lot of effort and also a lot of financial effort in," Cr Jarret said.
"For example, because of COVID restrictions, most candidates either had to rely on media advertising, which costs a lot of money, and also letterbox drops, and they're quite expensive, and corflutes, they all add up.
"And because of the error with the iVote system, that was money we all thought would just go down the drain."
The Electoral Commission has also agreed to pay the councils' legal cost, though there remains some anxiety around the cost to taxpayers.
Individual candidates will have to pursue their personal expenses with the court next month.
Singleton Councillor Val Scott won her seat on council by just a few votes.
She says she'll run again in any case, but the financial commitment will go a long way for other candidates.
"It's definitely going to encourage two that I know of," Cr Scott said. "I'm encouraging them to put their hands up as well, so I'm giving them a lot of support and saying 'go again'."
"I think it's a great relief, and especially for council, they can now plan for the next election without worrying about the finance."
It's understood, discussion is currently centering around the possibility of a late July date for a second election.
Tens of thousands of voters across the State will have to head back to the ballot box, just months after a Federal Election in May.
Cr Jarrett says there's no compensation for the saga's emotional toll.
"No one knows if they're going to get re-elected again," Cr Jarrett said.
"Also on their families, because local government and local councillors don't have the backup or the resources that major political parties have, so they've got to rely on family and friends and so on to man the polling booths and do the letter-drops and so on.
"It's a great impost. I feel sorry for every person that's putting their hand up."
Singleton Deputy Mayor Tony Jarrett and Councillor Val Scott.
