YOUR SAY: Why did so many people vote informally?

Yes, the Government stopped how to vote cards being handed out near polling places, but it was obvious that many electors had already made up their minds about what they would do. People brought political leaflets with them.

During counts at St Bedes Beverly Hills, most of the Informal votes were blank Ballot Papers. Why did electors not cast a vote? After talking to people outside, my thought is they were sick of the Local Government model in Georges River, where no one in MacMahon Street notices their opinions on Master Plans, Swimming Pools, Jubilee Park and many other issues. They were sick of the continuing blackening of certain councillors names through code of conduct and other inquiries.

The State Electoral Commission didn't communicate with electors (usually a letter giving voting details, polling places etc.). It could not control the over-enthusiastic polling workers at Hurstville Pre-poll.

There needs to be an independent inquiry into the failure of this council election process and a rewrite of the rules before the next election in two and a half years.

And well done to the Georges River Residents and Ratepayers who have probably gained four councillors. Hard work ahead. Brian Shaw, President, St George District Residents Network Inc

It's glib for the liberals to blame COVID rules for high informal voting. As documented by the ANU's long-running Australian Election Survey, I'd consider voter disenchantment a more likely cause.

The 2017 post- amalgamation council elections stood out for voting for 'faceless' men and women, with very little advance notice or information regarding candidates.

How to Votes don't help much. This time we had candidates ignoring social distancing to 'politely' ask if we needed advice.

We all submit electronic CVs for job applications in this information age, except apparently political candidates. The electoral laws should require these to be lodged, linked to all electoral material, and easily accessible via council or electoral commission websites.

And real CVs, not paper-thin, groomed summaries omitting vital parts of a candidate's political affiliations, qualifications and career. Greg Twyford, Oatley

I understand why the Coalition has always been unfriendly to the entertainment/arts community. But, of course, they want to capitalise in on it themselves. For example, the latest Morrison/Covid Follies have been hilarious. Then there's the always funny, stand-up Barnaby Joyce. I could go on, but you get the joke. Literally.

Meanwhile, The Prime Minister has a new message coming today about something but don't worry if you miss it because there'll be another one tomorrow about whatever it was about. The message will be different, so cheer up and keep voting for the same old Kellogg's Cornflakes. It's a free company (sic). Gary Frances, Bexley.

Perrottet and Morrison both announced the pending hypothetical exponential rise in COVID cases, then lifted restrictions and put testing to the gauntlet.

Politics is frequently about perceptions, announcements and lip service, rarely delivery.

The delivery mechanism is mostly private industry with political management flying by wire without instruments or instructions, with fingers crossed and a bucket of taxpayer funds to splurge or not, and taking accolades.

Nothing has changed since the insulation and Ruby Princess Royal Commissions from which nothing has been learned nor will change despite always perceptive Opposition. R Piech, Sans Souci

This is getting ridiculous.. 40 is slow enough.. why can't we go back to a teacher or parents (or two) supervising out on the street.. half the time I go thru school ones I don't even see a kid.. our streets are so slow.. your reducing our main roads to a gridlock.. most schools can change the exits to a back street.. that would be such a simple solution.. but stop with blaming the drivers.. every time a pedestrian gets hurt the cars get blamed.. I'm sorry, some blame has to be put on the walkers. They don't look. They just step out sometimes from the side where we are not looking. Max Murray, Hurstville

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craig.thomson@austcommunitymedia.com.au