Singleton to head back to the polls after council vote voided

BY DAKOTA TAIT

Singleton residents will return to the polls, after the Supreme Court voided the results of the December 4 election in the local government area.

Councillors in Kempsey and Shellharbour's Ward 4 will also face a new election, after the Electoral Commission raised concern, a number of voters were locked out due to a glitch in the online iVote system.

Singleton Mayor Sue Moore won't lose her job, but the position of the other nine councillors is now in doubt.

It's not clear when the new election will take place, but a date's been complicated by the impending Federal election.

It's also not clear if candidates and council will have to pay for the new election and campaigns, or if the Electoral Commissioner or another body will foot the bill. 

The court will make its final order on April 5, meaning Singleton has three months from then to host a new election.

Image credit: Singleton Council

Singleton election saga unlikely to be settled before Federal vote

BY DAKOTA TAIT

It's unlikely Singleton will be headed back to the polls for a second council election, before the country votes on their Federal members. 

Singleton, Kempsey, and Shellharbour Councils were back in the Supreme Court this week, after the Electoral Commission raised concern, a glitch in the online voting system means the December elections should be overturned.

The Commission says a number of voters were locked out when the iVote program crashed, identifying the three councils as the only ones in which the number would make a difference to the results.

But councillors say the issue wasn't their fault, and another election would be too expensive, both for their campaigns and for taxpayers. 

A mathematical scientist on behalf of a Kempsey councillor also told the court, the data was unfairly interpreted and actually shows another 36 councils should also be in doubt.

Justice Robert Beech-Jones said he would continue to consider the case, but no decision would be made before the Federal election.