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Campaign to increase voter turnout

Published on Thursday, 21 September 2023 at 4:04:36 PM

The Town of Port Hedland is aiming to increase voter turnout to 30 per cent in next month’s local election with a new advertising campaign.

Hedland will elect four members to the local council, with voting closing on 21 October.

Town of Port Hedland Chief Executive Officer Carl Askew said the Town was committed to ensuring people were aware of the opportunity to vote for local council members.

“Voter turnout in the Town of Port Hedland elections has averaged 27 per cent since 2005.

“It means that seven out of ten eligible voters are missing an opportunity to vote for who they want sitting around the Council table,” Mr Askew said.

“Local Government plays a substantial role in people’s lives, from investing in recreational facilities to advocating to State and Federal Government on issues like housing.

“It’s important that people take the opportunity to vote for who they want representing them.”

The Town of Port Hedland campaign will amplify an initiative developed by the Department of Local Government, Sport and Cultural Industries and WALGA.

Entitled 'Vote for Them”' the campaign highlights concrete examples of the services and infrastructure that local government is responsible for that make communities great places to live.

“The Town of Port Hedland campaign will amplify the campaign by taking a hyperlocal focus,” Mr Askew said.

“We’ll be using images of things that are uniquely Hedland to capture attention. For example, turtle hatchlings, Wanangkura Stadium and the South Hedland skatepark.

“We also have a couple of surprises that will be sure to get people talking, which is all part of our intention to raise awareness of the opportunity to vote.”

Voting in the local council election is undertaken via postal vote. Voting papers are expected to be delivered over the next two weeks.

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