Wednesday, 12 September 2007

For immediate release

 

Williamstown and Albert Park by-election results

 

State by-elections for the electorates of Williamstown and Albert Park will take place this Saturday, 15 September, 2007.

 

On election night, progressive figures for both Lower House (Legislative Assembly) electorates will be available via links on the VEC’s homepage, www.vec.vic.gov.au.

 

A progressive tally is expected to be available from approximately 7.00pm and will be updated every 15 minutes online. The results will include a breakdown of first preference votes for candidates, as well as two candidate preferred counts for both Districts.

 

All ordinary votes, as well as postal and early votes that have been received and processed, are expected to be counted by 9.30pm Saturday.

 

Results will continue to be updated on the VEC’s website from Monday, 17 September when counting resumes.

 

In the week following the by-elections, postal votes are received from Victoria, interstate and overseas.

 

 

 

Filming will be permitted at the following voting locations during polling in Saturday’s by-elections:

 

Albert Park District:

Kerferd South Voting Centre

Middle Park Primary School

Richardson Street (access via Mills St)

Middle Park, 3206.

Melways Ref 2K, B10

 

 

Williamstown District:

Spotswood West Voting Centre

South Kingsville Community Centre

43 Paxton St South

Kingsville 3015

Melways Ref 41, G12

 

 

On election night

 

Vote counting for both Districts will commence after the voting closes at 6.00pm Saturday. Early votes and postal votes will also be counted at this time.

 

 

 

 

Only media with pre-approved access to voting centres, election officials and scrutineers will be permitted to be present at the count.

 

Pre-approved access for either Williamstown or Albert Park after the close of polls, can be organised through Michael Newhouse at the VEC on 9299 0739, or email michael.newhouse@vec.vic.gov.au by 2pm Friday, 14 September.

 

Electronic media must observe the following conditions when filming:

 

• Filming take place for a few minutes only;
• Ballot papers should be filmed in such a way that they cannot be read;
• No interviews with the Election Manager, election staff or scrutineers are permitted;
• Filming may be supervised by an election official;
• Count proceedings are not to be interrupted in any way; and
• Filming is to cease if the Election Manager is of the opinion that any of the above conditions are not being met.

 

 

VEC contact on election day:

Sue Lang

Manager, Communications, Education and Research

Victorian Electoral Commission

Ph. (03) 9299 0730

m. 0438 028 994
Visit www.vec.vic.gov.au/statereleases.html for by-election media releases.

 

 

 

The first preferences of ordinary votes are counted first. Then a ‘two candidate preferred count’ is conducted, in which preferences are distributed to the two candidates for each electorate who are considered most likely to be in the lead.

 

The purpose of the two candidate preferred count is to get an early picture of the likely result.

 

Ordinary votes (those completed on election day) are counted at the voting centres on election night. Postal and early votes are checked and counted at the election managers’ offices.

 

To be elected for the Lower House, a candidate must receive an absolute majority (more than half) of the formal votes. Distributions of preferences take place when no candidate receives an absolute majority of first preference votes.

 

For both electorates, the result may be clear on election night. However, if the vote is close, final results will not be available until after the receipt of postal and absent votes and the distribution of preferences.

 

A recheck will take place early next week, with formal declarations expected mid to late week.

 

 

 - ENDS -