More than 35,000 Tasmanians have already voted in local government elections.
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However, Tasmanian Electoral Commissioner Andrew Hawkey has urged voters to return their ballot papers as soon as possible.
“They must be received by 10 o’clock on Tuesday October 30 so we would ask people to vote and post them as quickly as possible,” Mr Hawkey said.
“If voters have a problem with their ballot pack they can call us and we will send a replacement.
“All councils also have a ballot box if they think they won’t be delivered on time.”
Mr Hawkey said about 367,000 Tasmanians were eligible to vote.
Voting is not compulsory.
A record 481 candidates have nominated.
Mr Hawkey said a candidate’s membership of a political party could not be listed on the ballot paper.
“The act does not provide for any registration of a party on the ballot paper,” he said.
“Candidates can mention their party affiliations on their statements which are part of the ballot pack.
‘”Some choose to refer voters to their Facebook pages.
“Local government is more about grass roots issues and people who have very strong links to their local communities.”
Local Government Association of Tasmania president and Clarence mayor Doug Chipman said while several aldermen on his council were members of political parties they all voted independently.
“My impression is there is no room for party politics in local government in Tasmania,” Alderman Chipman said. “We want people well connected with their local communities and focused on community issues, rather than caucusing along party lines.”
In 2014, statewide voter turnout was 54.58 per cent.
The highest voter turnout was on King Island with 82.93 per cent followed by Flinders Island with 81.3 per cent.
Burnie had 59.82 per cent of its ratepayers vote, Devonport 54.34 per cent , Launceston 52.88 per cent and Hobart 51.7 per cent.