New restrictions at pre-polling booths

COUNCIL candidates in Toowoomba and across the state have been banned from canvassing at early polling booths or passing out how-to-vote cards, in a bid to reduce the risk of spreading coronavirus.

According to new rules released by the Electoral Commission of Queensland on Friday, candidates have also been restricted from shaking people’s hands or handing out flyers to potential voters.

The rules were enacted late yesterday by ECQ commissioner Pat Vigden, which mean candidates or volunteers effectively can’t interact with the public inside the booth area.

Candidates are also required to abide by social distancing rules for gatherings 100 people and maintain hygiene standards, in accordance with Queensland Health guidelines.

If candidates, political parties, or other participants want to distribute how-to-vote cards and election material to be available to electors, the material must be provided to the booth supervisor.

The rules also said material needed to be displayed at the polling booth in a way deemed appropriate by the booth supervisor.

“A minimum requirement is that how-to-vote cards and election material must be displayed in ballot paper order, as far as practicable,” the document said.

“Candidates and other electoral participants must not interfere or obstruct the booth supervisor or other ECQ staff enacting this direction, (or) remove how-to-vote cards or election material once they are displayed by the booth supervisor or other ECQ staff.”

Penalties apply for candidates who contravene those orders.

Some candidates have already posted the changes to their followers, including Cr Bill Cahill and Deputy Mayor Carol Taylor.

For more information, head

to the ECQ website at www.ecq.qld.gov.au. Tobi Loftus is in isolation after returning from an overseas trip last week. He’s currently quite bored.