Voters across Perth and Bunbury encountered significant disruptions during the recent election, as numerous polling booths reported shortages of ballot papers and staff. The Western Australian Electoral Commission (WAEC) has pledged to conduct a comprehensive investigation into these issues, which led to long queues and voter dissatisfaction. The situation was particularly dire at the Shenton Park Community Centre, where voters were informed of the ballot paper shortage shortly before 3 p.m. on Saturday.
Premier Roger Cook expressed his discontent with the WAEC's handling of the election, emphasizing the need for accountability. The WAEC had engaged a new recruitment company, Persolkelly, to hire staff for the elections. Despite this, Commissioner Robert Kennedy maintained that only a small number of booths faced problems and assured that they were fully staffed. Nonetheless, he acknowledged the frustration experienced by affected voters.
Disruptions at Polling Stations
The Shenton Park Community Centre witnessed considerable chaos when it ran out of ballot papers while voters were still in line, leading to significant delays. Retiree Quentin Hall was among those affected, standing only five people away from casting his vote when the papers ran out. Voters were promised that more ballot papers would arrive within five minutes, but many were made to wait longer.
"I've never seen so many people in my life queued to get into the Shenton Park Community Centre … which has been used as a voting centre for the past 20 years." – Quentin Hall
Mr. Hall chose to return later in the day at 5:00 p.m., finally managing to cast his vote after enduring the inconvenience. His experience exemplifies the broader challenges faced by many voters who were left waiting and uncertain.
Premier's Response and Electoral Commission's Defense
Premier Roger Cook did not mince words when addressing the election day issues. He conveyed disappointment with the WAEC's performance and highlighted the need for the commission to better manage resources and expectations.
"Obviously, they can get some from others, but we were disappointed." – Premier Roger Cook
Despite his criticism, Premier Cook refrained from calling for Commissioner Robert Kennedy’s resignation. On his part, Kennedy reiterated that the commission's immediate focus remains on completing the vote count for the one and a half million voters who participated.
"The commission's focus is on completing the count in the coming weeks for those one and a half million voters who cast their votes yesterday and prior to yesterday." – Robert Kennedy
Investigation and Future Implications
The WAEC has committed to investigating the election day mishaps thoroughly once the votes have been counted. This inquiry aims to identify what went wrong and how similar issues can be avoided in future elections.
"This will help inform our understanding of what has occurred." – Robert Kennedy
While Commissioner Kennedy assured that only a limited number of booths experienced disruptions, Premier Cook noted widespread frustration among voters forced to endure lengthy waits.
"I'm sure a lot of people would share our frustration with having to wait for so long." – Premier Roger Cook
