The Western Australian Electoral Commission (WAEC) is facing criticism after experiencing a shortage of ballot papers at various polling booths during the recent state election. Despite Labor achieving a significant win, securing over 40 seats for the third consecutive election, many voters encountered lengthy wait times, with some lines stretching up to 90 minutes due to inadequate staffing.
Newly appointed Premier Roger Cook addressed these issues, confirming reports of certain booths running out of ballots. He expressed disappointment over the WAEC’s management of the election, highlighting the unacceptability of both the waiting times and the lack of ballots. Cook remarked during a press conference that such inefficiencies were frustrating for voters and suggested that ballot provisions could have been transferred from other locations.
Furthermore, Cook acknowledged the need to review the WAEC’s electoral processes. Although he refrained from calling for the immediate resignation of WA Electoral Commissioner Robert Kennedy, he indicated that a comprehensive review would take place to assess the execution of the election and identify improvements for future instances. He anticipated receiving detailed reports on the election logistics in the coming days, underlining the significance of learning from each electoral event to enhance their handling.