VOTERS in this month’s Mornington Peninsula Shire elections affected by mail thefts from the Balnarring Village mailbox can expect a sympathetic ear from the Victorian Electoral Commission.
Balnarring Post Office licensee David Macfarlan yesterday (Monday) confirmed vandals had targeted the mailbox overnight Saturday 17 October but said he did not know how many letters – if any – had been stolen or destroyed. “There are never many letters in it,” he said.
Concerns have been raised that missing postal votes may have influenced the outcome of the all-postal council elections. Polls closed Friday 23 October.
Mr Macfarlan said he reported the damaged post office box to Hastings police.
“Everyone who asked us about the box was told to contact the electoral office,” he said.
The Victorian Electoral Commission has been made aware of this allegation and the matter has been referred to Australia Post for investigation.
First published in the Western Port News – 28 October 2020
