Voter lodges electoral complaint

A BUNDABERG voter has lodged an official complaint with the Electoral Commission of Queensland, fearing people were given incorrect instructions on how to vote at a Gooburrum polling booth.

Peter Gray said he voted at Gooburrum State School about 8.30am today and, when he was given his ballot paper by the issuing officer, was told to place a number 1 against the candidate of his choice.

"When I read the mayoral voting slip, I found it was optional preferential and immediately informed the issuing officer that I believed he had been issuing incorrect instructions on how to complete the voting slip," he said in his letter to the commission.

"The issuing officer then said it was optional and not required, as the preferences were only used for 'statistical purposes' in Brisbane.

"I was amazed by this statement."

Mr Gray said after a discussion with other staff at the polling booth, in which he was told the same thing, he felt an investigation was warranted.

"I am not convinced that the ECQ staff at Gooburrum State School understood the voting system, and as a result were giving misleading information to voters and could possibly influence the result of the election should it be close," he said.