Time to vote in Queanbeyan-Palerang Regional Election on Saturday

The electoral commission are expecting more than 10,000 to take advantage of pre-polling options which have been open since August 28. Leaving roughly 25,000 people to enjoy their right to a democracy sausage on Saturday.

Voters will pass judgement on 80 candidates, the fourth highest in New South Wales for these council elections.

The candidates will be spread among 11 tickets with only three of the 80 running ungrouped.

Many candidates have highlighted the importance of getting out and voting in this election, the first since the forced amalgamation last year.

There will be 11 councillors elected to Queanbeyan-Palerang Council; the former Queanbeyan City Council had 10 councillors while the former Palerang council had 9.

It will be a slightly different election for Queanbeyan residents who will no longer be voting for the mayor. The 11 councillors will elect a mayor from their ranks at the first council meeting after the election.

Four former mayors, Tim Overall, Pete Harrison, Ian Marjason and Walter Raynolds, will contest the election. Mr Overall received 54 per cent of first preference votes in the 2012 mayoral election.

The three major political parties in Australia – Labor, Liberals and the Greens – will all run tickets in the upcoming election for the first time in the history of either council.

There will be 16 polling places for this election.

They are located at Braidwood Central School, Bungendore Public School, Burra Community Hall, Captains Flat Hall, Jerrabomberra Public School, Karabar High, Letchworth Neighbourhood Centre, Majors Creek Hall, Queanbeyan Bicentennial Hall, Queanbeyan East, Queanbeyan High, Queanbeyan Public School, Queanbeyan West, Sutton Public School, The Anglican School Googong and Wamboin Hall.

Polling venues will be open from 8am and close at 6pm. Failing to vote can attract a $55 fine from NSW Treasury.