COVID-19 election booth rules banning election materials within 100 metres cause divide between candidates

The NSW Electoral Commission has banned the handing out of election materials within 100 metres of polling booths due to COVID-19 risks. Posters and corflutes also must be placed before 7am and cannot be adjusted again until after 7pm.

But the rule does not stop volunteers standing within the 100 metres or talking to people. Some volunteers have been pointing voters to their posters where they can use a QR code to source how to vote cards.

Lake Macquarie Labor candidate Mark Howells has been attending the pre-poll at Charlestown for a few hours each day saying hello to voters.

He said he was acting completely within the rules, and the Charlestown returning officer had confirmed this to him.

As someone with weakened lungs, he said he was very conscious of COVID and had always worn a mask and kept his distance from people.

"Only a handful of people have stopped to talk," Mr Howells said. "Most people going to prepoll know what they're doing.

"I'm certainly not going out of my way to go up to people and try to talk to them.

"From what I understand in other council areas this has been a common practice."

Lake Macquarie Liberal councillor and mayoral candidate Jason Pauling said he would not be at the booths during pre-poll or on election day, saying he didn't believe that approach was within the spirit of the restrictions and was too much of a risk for "minimal gain".

"It's very clear what the intent of the rule is, they don't want people in the area," he said. "It's unnecessary exposure.

"We've just been through intense restrictions to limit person to person contact. We are still coming out the other side of restrictions and actions inconsistent with the spirit of the 100 metre ban seem reckless."

Cr Pauling said this election had been a particularly tough one, but there were other ways to interact with voters, including social media, letterbox drops and corflutes.

"I get it, it's hard for everyone," he said. "This election has been very difficult to campaign in. However there are still restrictions in place. It's a health decision, not a political one."

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But Labor's NSW local government spokesperson believes the move was politically motivated.

Shadow Minister for Local Government, Greg Warren said the restriction was "an attack on the democratic right to make an informed decision about one's local representatives".

"The Premier opened the gates to thousands of people for a horse race yet when it comes to local government elections, this government says it's in the best interests of communities to tighten the reins," Mr Warren said.

"If it's safe to go to a night club, surely it's safe enough to stand outside a polling place on December 4."

Another mayoral candidate, Lake Mac Independents councillor Luke Cubis said his team also wouldn't be campaigning in person at the booths.

"What if one of the people standing there had COVID?" he said. "I think it's missing the intent of some of these things. Everyone is in the same boat."

However he said he also hoped this heralded a permanent change to stop residents being approached when they went to vote.

"It's unsolicited marketing," he said.

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