Call for new election after polling booth ‘closed early’

The Western Australian Electoral Commission is investigating a claim that a mobile polling booth was closed early at the local government elections last month, preventing people from casting a vote.

Paupiyala Tjarutja Aboriginal Corporation chief executive Jon Lark has claimed the voting box in Tjuntjuntjara, in the shire of Menzies, was closed “several” minutes before the advertised time and two people were unable to cast their vote.

Tjuntjuntjara is a remote Aboriginal community in Western Australia’s Great Victoria Desert, established in 1988 by the Spinifex people to return to their traditional lands.

It is one of Australia’s most isolated communities, located about 560 km north-east of Kalgoorlie.

“When two eligible community members are refused the right to vote before the advertised closing time and the outcome is decided by one vote, it raises profound concerns about procedural fairness and democratic integrity,” Mr Lark told the ABC.

The corporation is calling for a new election after a councillor won a seat by just one vote.

A WAEC spokesperson told the ABC they were aware an “invalidity complaint” had been lodged and an investigations was taking place.