Two thirds left to vote with week to go

Almost a third of residents have voted in the Geelong council election with just over a week until the 27 October deadline.
The Bellarine Peninsula and Geelong’s north led participation rates according to the Victorian Electoral Commission’s (VEC) latest counts on Thursday.
A third of the Bellarine Ward (18,512) and 30.59 per cent of Windermere Ward voters (10,253) had cast their ballet at 11am on Thursday.
Brownbill and Kardinia wards had recorded 29.5 (16,430) and 29.29 (14,391) per cent of ratepayers’ votes at that time.
Participation rates for Geelong’s 12 wards in 2012 ranged from 70 to 82 per cent, with an average of roughly three quarters of Geelong’s population voting.
This figure was slightly above the Victorian average for local government elections of 72.53 per cent that year.
The turnout for mayoral vote in the 2012 was 76.29.
According to VEC figures, postal polls had 10 per cent higher participation results than municipalities which held in-person elections.
The VEC expected to publish the results of the Geelong election on 4 November following the close of the extended postal vote receipt period.
The Local Government Act includes an extended period of five working days for the returning officer to receive postal votes.
Recounts would commence 5 or 6 November if required.