Vote counting is a slow business, and while some of the results of September 14’s local government elections were clear on the night, the rest will be revealed today and tomorrow.
During the check count, the electoral commission enters each vote into their computer include each voter’s individual preferences. Today, they push the button to distribute the preferences and reveal the election results. It only takes a couple of minutes, but they spread them out across the day to ensure they’re done right.
Preferences will decide most of the councillors elected in almost every LGA, with Mayors and bigger personalities attracting significant vote share and making it tough to predict the outcome in a number of councils. The largest vote share by an individual of any of the council areas (excluding Tenterfield’s wards) is easily held by Eric Noakes in Walcha, on 42.7% of the vote. Other notable dominant vote shares include:
- Colleen Fuller in Gunnedah – 32.79%
- Mark Rodda in Tamworth – 28.18%
- Rob Banham in Glen Innes Severn – 27.96%
- newcomer Shawn Cain in Liverpool Plains – 26.92%
- Susannah Pearse in Moree – 24.91%
Mayor Sam Coupland’s Group D attained 48.27% of the vote in Armidale, but that will mostly stay within the group. 1008 votes or 6.46% of that was for Coupland below the line, with the only other significant below the line votes for individuals being Brad Widders (589 votes, 3.78%) and Jenny Wild (450 votes, 2.89%).
The schedule for Distribution of Preferences in the New England council areas is as follows:
September 30
- Armidale Regional Council – 10.45am – see results
- Glen Innes Severn Shire Council – 1.45pm – see results
- Gunnedah Shire Council – 2pm – see results
- Gwydir Shire Council – 2.15pm – see results
- Inverell Shire Council – 2.30pm – see results
- Liverpool Plains Shire Council – 3.30pm – see results
- Moree Plains Shire Council – 3.45pm – see results
- Narrabri Shire Council – 4pm – see results
- Tamworth Regional Council – 4.30pm – see results
October 1
- Tenterfield Shire Council – from 9.30am to 10.15am
- Walcha Council – 10.30am
The results of each distribution will be posted within the hour to the Virtual Tally Room.
Then there is a 24 hour window in which a recount can be requested. Given the bitter campaign in Moree Plains, Glen Innes Severn, and Armidale in particular, a recount may not be out of the question, but it will depend how close the results end up being.
One race that is astoundingly close is the contest for the second seat in Tenterfield’s Ward E. With three candidates contesting the two positions, Greg Sauer is easily elected with 67.44% of the vote. Where his preferences go will be crucial, with just one vote between Matthew Sing, on 126 votes, and Thomas Peters, on 125 votes.
The results will then be formally declared over the remainder of this week. Mayoralties in all councils except Uralla will be voted on by each Council, normally at their first meeting in October. Uralla Shire Council was declared in August see results.
We’ll publish a separate results story for each LGA as they happen, as well as live blog throughout the day for those who are not good with waiting – follow here
An earlier version incorrectly stated all the results would be out today. Apologies for the transposition error.
See all our coverage for the Local Government elections 2024.