NINE days after the Orange byelection NSW Electoral Commission officers will go back to the start when they commence a re-count on Monday morning.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
When the last of the preferences were allocated on Friday afternoon Shooters, Fishers and Farmers Party candidate Philip Donato led his Nationals counterpart Scott Barrett by just 55 votes, or .11 per cent of the 49,687 votes cast across the electorate.
With such a slim advantage to Mr Donato and fluctuations as the original count was carried out and updated last week, NSW National Party state director Nathan Quigley said his request on Friday evening for a re-count was justified.
“It’s just because the numbers have bounced around so much,” Mr Quigley said.
“It’s just to be certain the final number reflects the votes that were cast at the election.”
State electoral commissioner John Schmidt issued a statement on Friday evening which said: “The Returning Officer for Orange has received a request for a re-count of the ballot papers. Pursuant to section 126(5) of the Parliamentary Electorates and Elections Act 1912, I have granted the request”.
Section 126(5) states: “At any time before the declaration that a candidate has been duly elected the returning officer may, if he or she thinks fit, on the request of any candidate setting forth the reasons for the request, or of his or her own motion, and shall, if so directed by the Electoral Commissioner, re-count the ballot papers contained in any parcel.”
The re-count will be held at the Orange Returning Officer’s Office and the number of staff counting votes will be doubled to eight.
It’s just to be certain the final number reflects the votes that were cast at the election.
- NSW National Party state director Nathan Quigley
NSW Electoral Commission spokesman Richard Carroll said the number of staff – and party scrutineers – involved in the re-counting process would be increased to eight to “expedite the count”.
“Candidates are each allowed to have as many scrutineers in attendance as there are election officials counting,” Mr Carroll said.
He said the Nationals, Shooters Party and Country Labor were all expected to send scrutineers.
The re-count will begin at 8.30am on Monday, just 90 minutes before the result was scheduled to be declared.
The result of the re-count is expected to be announced late on Monday afternoon.