Quotas will determine the make-up of the new Sutherland Shire Council.
Pre-poll voting started at 8am today Monday and a large proportion of votes are expected to have been cast by the time election day arrives on September 10.
Pre- poll centres are at:
- Cronulla Central, 38-60 Croydon Street.
- Miranda Community Centre, corner of Karimbla Road and Kiora Road.
- Sutherland Entertainment Centre, Eton Street.
- Sutherland Returning Officer, Level 2, Kirkby House, 33 Belmont Street.
- Sydney Town Hall.
The council is elected under a proportional representation system, in which candidates are elected in proportion to the number of votes they receive.
The name of each candidate and their political party affiliation is shown on the ballot paper, and the voter has the choice of voting above the line for a group of candidates or voting below the line for individual candidates.
To be elected, a candidate generally must gain a quota of the formal votes.
When a candidate in a group receives a quota, surplus votes are distributed to the next member in the group or other preferences as directed.
Voting instructions are printed on the ballot paper:
Voting above the line:
Place the number 1 in the square above the group of candidates for whom you wish to vote. If you wish to vote for additional candidates, place consecutive numbers beginning with the number 2 in the squares above the additional groups of candidates in order of your preferences for them.
Voting below the line:
Place the numbers 1 and 2 in the squares opposite the names of two candidates in the order of your preference for them. If you wish to vote for additional candidates , place consecutive numbers beginning with the number 3 in the squares opposite the names of those additional candidates in order of your preferences for them.
