Voters in Division 4 will go to the polls on Saturday 26 October.
Ipswich City Council Chief Executive Officer Sonia Cooper said the Electoral Commission of Queensland (ECQ) had written to council to confirm it would hold the by-election to fill the Division 4 vacancy on the same day as the State Election.
The vacancy followed the resignation due to health reasons of Councillor David Cullen.
“The council decided by resolution on 5 September to fill the vacancy through a by-election, and to request to the relevant State Government Minister that the by-election be conducted by postal ballot for the whole of Division 4, unless the election is held on the same date as the State Election on 26 October 2024,” Ms Cooper said.
“The Electoral Commissioner has now advised he has directed the ECQ to hold the ballot for the vacancy in Division 4 on the same day as the State Election, on Saturday 26 October.”
Further advice is that Division 4 voters will be able to cast their vote at any of the early voting centres across the Ipswich Local Government Area. Postal ballot will also be an option, just as it is in ordinary circumstances.
The ECQ has advised the by-election timetable will be as follows:
- Notice of Election: Friday 27 September, 2024
- Close of Rolls: Thursday 3 October, 2024
- Close of Nominations: Tuesday 8 October, 2024
- Election Day: Saturday 26 October, 2024
- Last day for return of postal votes: Tuesday 5 November, 2024.
The Electoral Commissioner has provided an updated estimate of the cost of the election, to be paid by council, at $396,000.
Division 4 is oriented in a west-east direction and includes Amberley, Ashwell, Barellan Point, Blacksoil, Brassall, Churchill, Chuwar, Haigslea, Ironbarnk, Karalee, Karrabin, Lanefield, Marburg, Moores Pocket, Mount Marrow, Muirlea, North Ipswich, North Tivoli, Pine Mountain, Rosewood, Tallegalla, Thagoona, The Bluff, Tivoli, Walloon, Woolshed, Wulkuraka (north of the railway line) and Yamanto.
Voters wanting to confirm their electoral status or update their electoral roll details should visit https://www.ecq.qld.gov.au/