1 00:00:00,080 --> 00:00:02,759 Speaker 1: Now we know that the countdown is on until actual 2 00:00:02,800 --> 00:00:05,400 Speaker 1: polling day, but of course the polls open, the early 3 00:00:05,480 --> 00:00:09,239 Speaker 1: voting centers opening today. And joining me on the line 4 00:00:09,280 --> 00:00:12,080 Speaker 1: to talk more about it is the Northern Territories Electoral 5 00:00:12,080 --> 00:00:14,800 Speaker 1: Commissioner Kirsten Kelly. Good morning to you, Commissioner. 6 00:00:15,760 --> 00:00:16,880 Speaker 2: Good morning Katie. 7 00:00:17,160 --> 00:00:20,439 Speaker 1: Now that early voting opening today, how's it looked so 8 00:00:20,600 --> 00:00:21,400 Speaker 1: far this morning? 9 00:00:22,360 --> 00:00:25,280 Speaker 2: Yeah? Absolutely, early voting started today. So we've had an 10 00:00:25,320 --> 00:00:28,760 Speaker 2: excessive a thousand votes already cast through the early voting 11 00:00:28,800 --> 00:00:32,080 Speaker 2: centers across the Northern Territory so far this morning. So 12 00:00:32,600 --> 00:00:35,560 Speaker 2: lots of locations available for territories to go and vote 13 00:00:36,280 --> 00:00:38,320 Speaker 2: if he's over the next two weeks for early voting. 14 00:00:38,640 --> 00:00:41,519 Speaker 1: So one thousand already turning out to vote. How does 15 00:00:41,520 --> 00:00:43,160 Speaker 1: that compare to previous elections. 16 00:00:44,159 --> 00:00:46,800 Speaker 2: I don't have a comparison for the previous elections, but 17 00:00:47,360 --> 00:00:49,720 Speaker 2: it's a good start for the start of early voting. 18 00:00:50,120 --> 00:00:52,760 Speaker 1: Yeah, oh, look, I agree. I think it's good to 19 00:00:52,760 --> 00:00:56,120 Speaker 1: get out there and vote. Make sure that you exercise 20 00:00:56,200 --> 00:01:00,400 Speaker 1: that democratic right. Kirsten tell us in terms of who's 21 00:01:00,480 --> 00:01:03,920 Speaker 1: eligible to vote early, can anybody go in and vote early? 22 00:01:04,880 --> 00:01:07,480 Speaker 2: Yeah, it's a really good point. Katie. Anyone can vote early. 23 00:01:07,560 --> 00:01:10,960 Speaker 2: There is no eligibility requirement in the Northern Territory to 24 00:01:11,600 --> 00:01:15,720 Speaker 2: caston early vote, so certainly encouraging people to take advantage 25 00:01:15,760 --> 00:01:19,319 Speaker 2: of one of the conveniently located early voting centers across 26 00:01:19,319 --> 00:01:19,920 Speaker 2: the territory. 27 00:01:20,160 --> 00:01:22,800 Speaker 1: Now, I know there has been some concerns raised this morning, 28 00:01:22,840 --> 00:01:25,160 Speaker 1: even with the Chief Finister on the show earlier this 29 00:01:25,200 --> 00:01:29,480 Speaker 1: morning about a lack of boothe in both Drysdale, and 30 00:01:29,480 --> 00:01:32,800 Speaker 1: then I also had another message coming through saying bees 31 00:01:32,920 --> 00:01:35,320 Speaker 1: Creek as well. 32 00:01:35,480 --> 00:01:39,039 Speaker 2: So there are early voting centers in Casarina, so in 33 00:01:39,120 --> 00:01:43,880 Speaker 2: Gateway Shopping Center, Palmerston Shopping Center called Alinga Central, and 34 00:01:43,920 --> 00:01:46,520 Speaker 2: then there's the election day voting centers as well, which 35 00:01:46,560 --> 00:01:50,560 Speaker 2: will be open Berry Spring Shopping Village. We'll have an 36 00:01:50,600 --> 00:01:53,680 Speaker 2: early voting center starting from this Saturday from eight till three, 37 00:01:53,680 --> 00:01:55,440 Speaker 2: and then we'll have a week of early voting next 38 00:01:55,480 --> 00:01:57,320 Speaker 2: week in the lead up to election dates. 39 00:01:57,800 --> 00:01:59,640 Speaker 1: Is it correct though that there's not going to be 40 00:01:59,720 --> 00:02:02,440 Speaker 1: somewhere for people to vote in Drysdale. 41 00:02:03,800 --> 00:02:07,840 Speaker 2: So there are so Gateway Shopping Center, so Yarrawonga which 42 00:02:07,840 --> 00:02:12,480 Speaker 2: is Gateway Shopping Center, is the center available for Drysdale members. 43 00:02:12,480 --> 00:02:14,679 Speaker 2: So anyone can vote at any voting center. Yeah, so 44 00:02:14,840 --> 00:02:17,880 Speaker 2: you are shopping in Palmerston, if you are shopping at Gateway, 45 00:02:18,520 --> 00:02:20,920 Speaker 2: then you can actually cast your vote there, regardless of 46 00:02:20,960 --> 00:02:23,560 Speaker 2: what division you're in, like Drivedale there and then on 47 00:02:23,600 --> 00:02:26,959 Speaker 2: election day there will be a Sacred Heart Primary School 48 00:02:27,000 --> 00:02:30,200 Speaker 2: or will be available for people within that area. Yeah. 49 00:02:30,240 --> 00:02:33,760 Speaker 1: The criticism I suppose is the criticism I suppose is 50 00:02:33,800 --> 00:02:37,359 Speaker 1: that some of those locations where people have previously been 51 00:02:37,520 --> 00:02:40,480 Speaker 1: able to go and vote are no longer going to 52 00:02:40,480 --> 00:02:41,320 Speaker 1: be operational. 53 00:02:42,600 --> 00:02:45,920 Speaker 2: So there has been some changes. For example, previously reviews Bakewell, 54 00:02:45,960 --> 00:02:49,239 Speaker 2: but that's been deemed not suitable. So we make adjustments 55 00:02:49,280 --> 00:02:52,800 Speaker 2: based on a number of things about accessibility to voters, 56 00:02:52,880 --> 00:02:56,400 Speaker 2: just making sure that people can access them, and suitability 57 00:02:56,480 --> 00:02:59,600 Speaker 2: of voting center. So that information is all available now 58 00:02:59,639 --> 00:03:03,040 Speaker 2: on our website YEP where the actual voting centers are, 59 00:03:03,080 --> 00:03:05,760 Speaker 2: and if people aren't quite sure, they can give us 60 00:03:05,760 --> 00:03:07,800 Speaker 2: a call through our service center, but they can also 61 00:03:07,840 --> 00:03:09,840 Speaker 2: go on the website. They can put in their residential 62 00:03:09,840 --> 00:03:13,320 Speaker 2: address on the find my closest Voting center location and 63 00:03:13,360 --> 00:03:15,800 Speaker 2: it'll list all of the voting centers which are closest 64 00:03:15,800 --> 00:03:16,160 Speaker 2: to them. 65 00:03:16,360 --> 00:03:18,600 Speaker 1: Yeah, and look, if there are any seniors listening this 66 00:03:18,680 --> 00:03:21,080 Speaker 1: morning who aren't one hundred percent sure if their usual 67 00:03:21,160 --> 00:03:23,920 Speaker 1: voting center is going to be operational or not. If 68 00:03:23,960 --> 00:03:26,720 Speaker 1: you can't find it, if you're not technically savvy, you 69 00:03:26,720 --> 00:03:28,480 Speaker 1: can always give us a call here at the radio 70 00:03:28,520 --> 00:03:30,200 Speaker 1: station and we can try and help you. Or I'm 71 00:03:30,240 --> 00:03:32,600 Speaker 1: sure you can also get in contact with the Northern 72 00:03:32,720 --> 00:03:36,200 Speaker 1: Territory Electoral Commission over the phone to work out exactly 73 00:03:36,240 --> 00:03:37,280 Speaker 1: where you can vote. 74 00:03:38,040 --> 00:03:40,080 Speaker 2: Absolutely, we have a service center set up, and there's 75 00:03:40,080 --> 00:03:42,119 Speaker 2: certainly a team of people that can tell If people 76 00:03:42,160 --> 00:03:44,480 Speaker 2: don't want to go onto the computer, they can certainly 77 00:03:44,560 --> 00:03:47,440 Speaker 2: ring the one eight hundred number, and that's one eight 78 00:03:47,520 --> 00:03:50,440 Speaker 2: hundred sixty nine eight six eighty three or one eight 79 00:03:50,560 --> 00:03:53,520 Speaker 2: hundred by vote and get that information. And for anyone 80 00:03:53,560 --> 00:03:54,880 Speaker 2: who has accessibilities. 81 00:03:56,200 --> 00:03:59,640 Speaker 1: We just seem to have somehow lost the loss of the commissioner. 82 00:03:59,640 --> 00:04:02,000 Speaker 1: I'm too sure what's happened there. Let's try that once more. 83 00:04:02,520 --> 00:04:06,040 Speaker 1: Are you their commissioner? I can hear, sorry you cut 84 00:04:06,080 --> 00:04:09,440 Speaker 1: out for some reason, then, so can please continue on? 85 00:04:09,560 --> 00:04:10,440 Speaker 1: I apologize for that. 86 00:04:11,480 --> 00:04:13,840 Speaker 2: No, that's okay. So just reminding people that they can 87 00:04:13,880 --> 00:04:16,880 Speaker 2: call our service center, which is one eight hundred sixty 88 00:04:16,960 --> 00:04:19,840 Speaker 2: nine eight six eight three or one eight hundred my vote, 89 00:04:19,880 --> 00:04:22,039 Speaker 2: and we can let you know where your closest voting 90 00:04:22,080 --> 00:04:23,800 Speaker 2: center is if you don't want to go online and 91 00:04:23,920 --> 00:04:26,600 Speaker 2: or aren't able to. But for people who may need 92 00:04:26,600 --> 00:04:29,240 Speaker 2: assistance with voting, there's also the option if they do 93 00:04:29,320 --> 00:04:32,440 Speaker 2: attend a voting center they can be assisted to vote 94 00:04:32,480 --> 00:04:35,359 Speaker 2: that there will be disabled parking available. But if they 95 00:04:35,400 --> 00:04:37,920 Speaker 2: aren't able to leave their car voting center, stuff, can 96 00:04:38,040 --> 00:04:39,960 Speaker 2: leave the voting center and issue there and a vote 97 00:04:39,960 --> 00:04:42,280 Speaker 2: in their car if they're unable to physically attend. 98 00:04:42,360 --> 00:04:43,440 Speaker 1: Oh that's really that's good. 99 00:04:43,640 --> 00:04:45,600 Speaker 2: Not for them, Yeah, that's really good to hear. 100 00:04:45,760 --> 00:04:50,240 Speaker 1: Hey, how in terms of the early voting in remote communities, 101 00:04:50,279 --> 00:04:51,200 Speaker 1: how does that work? 102 00:04:52,279 --> 00:04:54,559 Speaker 2: Yeah, so that we've got six teams that have left 103 00:04:54,560 --> 00:04:57,960 Speaker 2: over the weekend to start that process. So they're out 104 00:04:58,120 --> 00:05:01,040 Speaker 2: issuing votes today in the community. So again, someone from 105 00:05:01,040 --> 00:05:03,280 Speaker 2: a community and go onto the website to see where 106 00:05:03,320 --> 00:05:06,359 Speaker 2: the teams are. We provide posters in community and we 107 00:05:06,440 --> 00:05:11,799 Speaker 2: send in advanced text messages Facebook communications to community pages 108 00:05:11,800 --> 00:05:14,480 Speaker 2: to let teams know. And we've after doing our nineteen 109 00:05:14,520 --> 00:05:18,440 Speaker 2: week engagement program, we stay in contact with people that 110 00:05:18,520 --> 00:05:20,559 Speaker 2: we've engaged with and let them know when the teams 111 00:05:20,560 --> 00:05:22,760 Speaker 2: are coming and if there's any changes that will be 112 00:05:22,760 --> 00:05:26,679 Speaker 2: communicated through. So the team six teams out at the moment, Bullman, 113 00:05:26,839 --> 00:05:31,840 Speaker 2: we Mole, bell Ewen, mangan Im Pampa and the work 114 00:05:31,920 --> 00:05:35,039 Speaker 2: camp out in Mulanboy. So the teams are out and about. 115 00:05:35,240 --> 00:05:38,480 Speaker 1: Now, how many people are you expecting or what percentage 116 00:05:38,480 --> 00:05:41,159 Speaker 1: of people are you expecting are going to vote before 117 00:05:41,200 --> 00:05:41,960 Speaker 1: election day? 118 00:05:43,240 --> 00:05:47,520 Speaker 2: So in previous years the early when the eligibility to 119 00:05:47,800 --> 00:05:51,479 Speaker 2: early vote was removed, we certainly saw an increase in 120 00:05:51,520 --> 00:05:54,320 Speaker 2: early voting. And then at the last election around COVID 121 00:05:54,600 --> 00:05:57,479 Speaker 2: there was certainly an increase in take ups. So since 122 00:05:57,480 --> 00:05:59,320 Speaker 2: then some of the by elections it's come back a 123 00:05:59,320 --> 00:06:01,200 Speaker 2: little bit more so not as many and a little 124 00:06:01,240 --> 00:06:03,640 Speaker 2: bit more on election day, but we're certainly encouraging people 125 00:06:03,960 --> 00:06:06,080 Speaker 2: to come and vote. So there is a lot of 126 00:06:06,560 --> 00:06:09,400 Speaker 2: interest in people like early voting, So encourage people to 127 00:06:09,640 --> 00:06:10,279 Speaker 2: early vote. 128 00:06:10,520 --> 00:06:12,919 Speaker 1: Yeah, I know before the last Northern Territory election we 129 00:06:12,960 --> 00:06:15,960 Speaker 1: anticipated about sixty percent I believe it was at the 130 00:06:16,000 --> 00:06:18,080 Speaker 1: time we're going to vote early. Do we have any 131 00:06:18,120 --> 00:06:19,640 Speaker 1: figures like that this time round? 132 00:06:20,560 --> 00:06:23,480 Speaker 2: So not at the moment, but we'd certainly be looking 133 00:06:23,640 --> 00:06:26,840 Speaker 2: around that so been in other by elections, it's been 134 00:06:26,839 --> 00:06:29,320 Speaker 2: a little bit more closer to our fifty fiftieth, moving 135 00:06:29,360 --> 00:06:31,240 Speaker 2: back to where it was a little bit more of 136 00:06:31,240 --> 00:06:34,479 Speaker 2: a sixty to forty with early voting election day. But yeah, 137 00:06:34,520 --> 00:06:36,359 Speaker 2: we'll wait and see that. There's certainly lots of voting 138 00:06:36,400 --> 00:06:40,360 Speaker 2: centers available in shopping centers across the Northern Territory to 139 00:06:40,440 --> 00:06:43,120 Speaker 2: all our convenience voting for people to cast their votes early. 140 00:06:43,320 --> 00:06:45,800 Speaker 1: Yeah, well, and it sounds like plenty of people already 141 00:06:45,839 --> 00:06:47,920 Speaker 1: out there this morning. If there's more than a thousand, 142 00:06:48,800 --> 00:06:51,719 Speaker 1: you know, by sort of quarter past ten, tell me 143 00:06:51,960 --> 00:06:55,960 Speaker 1: in terms of the deadline for anybody wanting to postal vote, 144 00:06:56,000 --> 00:06:57,080 Speaker 1: has that now passed? 145 00:06:57,960 --> 00:07:01,120 Speaker 2: So no, that hasn't passed. The deadline for postal vote 146 00:07:01,200 --> 00:07:04,320 Speaker 2: dispatches the twenty second of August, and it's a couple 147 00:07:04,320 --> 00:07:06,400 Speaker 2: of days earlier for that for international. But I would 148 00:07:06,400 --> 00:07:10,000 Speaker 2: certainly encourage anyone who is not able to attend a 149 00:07:10,080 --> 00:07:13,640 Speaker 2: voting center to please apply for a postal vote now, 150 00:07:13,720 --> 00:07:16,240 Speaker 2: just to allow the posts to get to them and 151 00:07:16,320 --> 00:07:18,680 Speaker 2: for them to complete it before sixty on an election day, 152 00:07:18,680 --> 00:07:21,160 Speaker 2: which is a requirement and get that back to us 153 00:07:22,000 --> 00:07:25,160 Speaker 2: so we can include that in the account. So yesterday 154 00:07:25,600 --> 00:07:28,800 Speaker 2: over six one hundred postal votes have been dispatched to people, 155 00:07:28,840 --> 00:07:31,520 Speaker 2: So anyone who has applied to start receiving them in 156 00:07:31,560 --> 00:07:32,640 Speaker 2: the next few days. 157 00:07:33,000 --> 00:07:35,760 Speaker 1: Yeah, right now, in terms of we know now all 158 00:07:35,760 --> 00:07:38,000 Speaker 1: the candidates have been locked in, we know where they're 159 00:07:38,000 --> 00:07:40,520 Speaker 1: going to be sitting on the ballot papers. Is there 160 00:07:40,520 --> 00:07:43,320 Speaker 1: somewhere on the Northern Territory Electoral Commission website where people 161 00:07:43,320 --> 00:07:45,880 Speaker 1: are able to go and view all those candidates? I know, 162 00:07:45,960 --> 00:07:48,520 Speaker 1: we get us this question a lot, and we certainly 163 00:07:48,520 --> 00:07:50,520 Speaker 1: try our best to make sure that everybody in every 164 00:07:50,560 --> 00:07:54,040 Speaker 1: electorate knows who is who's put their hand up? But 165 00:07:54,160 --> 00:07:56,040 Speaker 1: is there a bit of a list on the Electoral 166 00:07:56,040 --> 00:07:57,120 Speaker 1: Commission website? 167 00:07:57,920 --> 00:07:59,960 Speaker 2: So there is a list of candidates on the NTS 168 00:08:00,000 --> 00:08:05,560 Speaker 2: the Electoral Commission website under the electoral Participants candidates had YEP. 169 00:08:05,640 --> 00:08:07,800 Speaker 2: So what that does is provide an image of the 170 00:08:07,880 --> 00:08:11,680 Speaker 2: candidate as well as their details if they've provided permission 171 00:08:11,800 --> 00:08:14,680 Speaker 2: to have that made publicly available, so that may include 172 00:08:14,720 --> 00:08:17,320 Speaker 2: a Facebook link or a website link. That doesn't always, 173 00:08:17,400 --> 00:08:20,440 Speaker 2: so there's certainly that opportunity to go through there where 174 00:08:20,440 --> 00:08:23,920 Speaker 2: a candidate has agreed to have that available through the website. 175 00:08:24,120 --> 00:08:26,560 Speaker 1: Commissioner, anything else we should be aware of this morning. 176 00:08:27,040 --> 00:08:28,840 Speaker 1: You know that you are keen to get out there 177 00:08:28,920 --> 00:08:29,720 Speaker 1: to our voters. 178 00:08:30,920 --> 00:08:33,559 Speaker 2: No, just more encouraging people, just letting. Early voting has 179 00:08:33,600 --> 00:08:38,080 Speaker 2: started that from eight to five pm on weekdays. There'll 180 00:08:38,120 --> 00:08:41,040 Speaker 2: also be early voting from eight to three on Saturday, 181 00:08:41,280 --> 00:08:43,720 Speaker 2: and then next week is another week of early voting. 182 00:08:44,480 --> 00:08:47,840 Speaker 2: Darwin City dal and Entertainment Center is a location eaten 183 00:08:47,960 --> 00:08:50,920 Speaker 2: the old slipout site, Casarina Shopping Center in the quarter, 184 00:08:51,080 --> 00:08:54,920 Speaker 2: the old coffee club gateway in the pavilion opposite Baskin Robin's, 185 00:08:55,280 --> 00:08:58,360 Speaker 2: Palmerston Shopping Center, the old pharmacy site, cool linga Central 186 00:08:58,440 --> 00:09:00,840 Speaker 2: behind Muff and Brakes, and the cap and Central shopping 187 00:09:00,880 --> 00:09:04,200 Speaker 2: Center the old Lackman Store are all available to receive 188 00:09:04,280 --> 00:09:06,240 Speaker 2: your votes today if you're in that area and you. 189 00:09:06,200 --> 00:09:08,760 Speaker 1: Wish to vote well, Kirsten, you and I have been 190 00:09:08,800 --> 00:09:11,000 Speaker 1: counting down the days. You guys have had that counter 191 00:09:11,120 --> 00:09:14,520 Speaker 1: up on the Northern Territory Electoral Commission website for I 192 00:09:14,520 --> 00:09:16,959 Speaker 1: don't even know how long, but gee, it's been helpful 193 00:09:17,000 --> 00:09:19,760 Speaker 1: to me. And now it's just sitting at eleven days, 194 00:09:19,840 --> 00:09:22,240 Speaker 1: twenty one hours and thirty two minutes. We're at the 195 00:09:22,320 --> 00:09:23,160 Speaker 1: end of the marathon. 196 00:09:24,360 --> 00:09:26,320 Speaker 2: We certainly are so a little bit more to go, 197 00:09:26,480 --> 00:09:29,280 Speaker 2: but yeah, going well, please nice and early voting starts 198 00:09:29,280 --> 00:09:32,800 Speaker 2: and people start going to voting Senate, so it is well. 199 00:09:32,800 --> 00:09:35,560 Speaker 1: Look, I'm sure you and I'll probably talk before the election. 200 00:09:35,720 --> 00:09:37,680 Speaker 1: Thank you so very much for your time this morning. 201 00:09:37,760 --> 00:09:40,080 Speaker 1: I know that you are incredibly busy at the moment. 202 00:09:41,040 --> 00:09:43,480 Speaker 2: Anytime, I'm happy to chat anytime. Thanks Katie, thank you 203 00:09:43,600 --> 00:09:44,719 Speaker 2: very much, appreciate it.