Residents unable to vote on Saturday, May 9 can vote early at the pre-poll voting centre at the Forbes Council Chambers in Harold Street. 

There is no absentee voting in local government elections, so if you cannot vote on election day you need to pre-poll or postal vote. 

Applications for postal voting close at 6pm on Friday, May 1 and application forms are available on Council’s website www.forbes.nsw.gov.au

Pre-poll voting is open Monday to Friday from 8.30am to 5pm and the day before the by-election, it will remain open until 6pm. 

Voting is compulsory for all residents of the Forbes local government area who are registered on the electoral roll. The penalty for not voting is $55. 

Four candidates are contesting the by-election for one councillor position. 

They are, in ballot paper order, Grant Clifton, Jenny Webb, Robyn Miller and John Berger. 

Council elected to administer its own by-election and appointed Alan McCormack as returning officer. 

Mr McCormack is based at council full-time until the election and can be contacted on 6850 2300 or amccormack@forbes.nsw.gov.au for all election enquiries.

On election day, polling places are Forbes Town Hall, Forbes Tennis Club, Forbes High School and Bedgerabong Public School. Voting is open from 8am to 6pm.