With NSW local government elections less than a month away, we answer your questions surrounding vaccination status and the ability to enter polling booths.
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COVID-19 restrictions were set to ease on December 1 for vaccinated and unvaccinated people alike, however, NSW Premier Dominic Perrottett recently announced restrictions would ease on December 15, or until the state reached 95 per cent full vaccinated.
It has left residents across the state wondering what will happen come election time on December 4.
An incident on the NSW South Coast has highlighted the current divide between vaccinated and unvaccinated residents.
Current Shoalhaven councillor Nina Digiglio was unable to enter the Electoral Commission office due to her unvaccinated status to fix a mistake that disqualified herself and her candidates from running in the local election.
"I wasn't allowed in," she said.
"I run 10 km per day. I'm extremely healthy. I was waiting for more research to be completed before I got my vaccine"
According to the NSW Electoral Commission website, a COVID-19 safety plan will be in place for the December 4 election, and all residents across NSW will be expected to vote, regardless of their vaccination status.
The NSW Electoral Commissions office has implemented several protection measures to help minimise the risk of community transmission.
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Voters across the state will be encouraged to vote via postal, online and operator-assisted voting or at a pre-poll office to reduce the number of people attending voting venues.
Several protection measures will be implemented to help minimise the risk of community transmission.
Changes have also been made to voting eligibility requirements for postal voting.
It will also be mandatory for everyone to check in and check out of election venues using the ServiceNSW COVID Safe Check-in QR code and masks wearing will also be made mandatory inside the election venue.
However, voters who are subject to mandatory quarantine or who are required to self-isolate (including following a COVID-19 test) must not attend an election venue in person and will be encouraged to use alternative voting channels, where eligible.
In NSW, residents have two options to vote without visiting a polling booth; postal votes and iVote.
Both options come with a series of eligibility requirements which have been expanded due to COVID-19.
The NSW Electoral Commission was contacted for comment regarding this story.
Vera Demertzis
Journalist at the Southern Highland News covering council yarns and community news. Got a tip or a story to tell? Email vera.demertzis@southernhighlandnews.com.au or call on 0427 250 908.
Journalist at the Southern Highland News covering council yarns and community news. Got a tip or a story to tell? Email vera.demertzis@southernhighlandnews.com.au or call on 0427 250 908.
