The name of the candidate elected to replace Mrs Giulia Jones, former member for Murrumbidgee, in the ACT Legislative Assembly should be known by Monday 20 June, the ACT Electoral Commissioner, Mr Damian Cantwell AM CSC, announced today.
The Electoral Commissioner has received official notification of the casual vacancy from the Speaker of the Assembly, Joy Burch MLA.
Mrs Jones formally resigned from the Assembly on Thursday 2 June.
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“I am now able to outline the official timetable for filling the Legislative Assembly vacancy,” Mr Cantwell said.
Legislative Assembly vacancies are filled by conducting a ‘countback’ of those ballots that elected the vacating member. In effect, those electors who voted for Mrs Jones determine her replacement.
To begin the countback process, an advertisement will appear today, Friday 10 June, in The Canberra Times, inviting candidates who unsuccessfully stood in the Murrumbidgee electorate at the 2020 election to contest the vacancy.
Where practicable, the Commission will notify all the unsuccessful candidates directly, Mr Cantwell said.
Those candidates now have 10 days to indicate if they wish to contest the vacancy. Applications from candidates must be received by 12:00 noon on Monday 20 June.
At 12:30 pm on 20 June, the names of the candidates contesting the vacancy will be officially declared, Mr Cantwell said.
A computer counting program will determine which candidate will be elected to the Assembly to replace Mrs Jones.
It is expected that the official declaration of the result will take place the following Wednesday 22 June, at 3:00 pm.
These events will take place at the ACT Legislative Assembly, 196 London Circuit, Civic Square, Canberra City.
Media and the public are invited to attend these two events; however, attendance is subject to Covid Safe provisions.
