Anglesea by-election enrolment closing, James McIntyre elected to council

ELIGIBLE residents and ratepayers are being urged to enrol to vote for the coming Surf Coast Shire by-election in the Anglesea Ward before it’s too late.

Enrolment closes at 4pm tomorrow (Friday, July 5).

The by-election is being held to fill the spot vacated by former Anglesea Ward councillor Libby Coker, who resigned the seat after she was elected as the federal member for Corangamite in May’s federal election.

Australian citizens living within Anglesea Ward who have recently turned 18 years old or changed their address can complete an enrolment form online at vec.vic.gov.au or pick up a form at any Australia Post or Australian Electoral Commission office.

Paper enrolment forms must be received by the Victorian Electoral Commission by 4pm on Friday, July 5.

There are special enrolment categories for owners, occupiers, company nominees and people who are not Australian citizens but pay rates for an address in Anglesea Ward.

People in these categories can apply directly to Surf Coast Shire Council to enrol, by phoning 5261 0600.

More information on enrolment is available by calling 1300 805 478 or at vec.vic.gov.au, where voters can also sign up to the free VoterAlert service to be sent important election reminders by SMS and email.

Nominations for candidates interested in standing in the by-election open on July 25 and close on July 30.

In other shire news, James McIntyre is the new councillor for Winchelsea Ward, following a countback procedure to fill an extraordinary vacancy in Winchelsea Ward following the resignation of Carol McGregor.

Held in the council chambers on Tuesday, the countback was determined using the vacating councillor’s votes from the 2016 Surf Coast Shire election, instead of voters voting in a by-election.