Somerset residents will head to the polls on September 13 to vote for a new councillor.
The Electoral Commission of Queensland announced the date yesterday for the by-election following the resignation of Somerset Councillor Kylee Isidro (pictured) in late June.
The by-election will be a full postal ballot, which means there will be no polling places for voters to attend.
More than 20,000 Somerset residents will be casting a vote on, before or just after election day.
ECQ Executive Director of Election Event Management Julie Cavanagh said that they will be sending out postal vote material for voters after candidate nominations close on the 14th of August. .
“There’s a couple of really important things for voters to know, even before they receive those ballots, that they need to check that their details are up to date on the electoral roll”.
“This will ensure the ECQ sends their postal ballot to the right place,” she said.
“And when they do receive it please follow the instructions, both in terms of how to complete the ballot paper but also what’s called a declaration envelop that needs to be filled out and signed and witnessed,” she said.
ECQ Executive Director of Election Event Management Julie Cavanagh said that it isn’t necessary for voters to wait until September 13 to fill out their postal ballot.
“The earlier we get people’s postal ballots returned, the sooner we’ll be able to make a declaration and provide the council with a new councillor,” she said.
Potential candidates have just over a week to get their nomination in for the Somerset Regional Council by-election.
Each independent candidate must be endorsed by at least six eligible nominators currently enrolled in the Somerset region.
Other important dates for the Somerset Regional Council by-election are as follows:
- Notice of election –Tuesday 5 August 2025
- Close of roll – Monday 11 August 2025
- Close of nominations and ballot draw – Thursday 14 August 2025
- Election Day –Saturday 13 September 2025
- Return of postal ballot cut-off –5pm Tuesday 23 September 20
Visit the Australian Electoral Commission website to enrol or check enrolment https://www.aec.gov.au/enrol/
Information for candidates is on the Electoral Commission of Queensland website https://www.ecq.qld.gov.au/election-participants/local-election-participants
