Commonwealth Electoral (COVID Enfranchisement) Regulations 2022
20Scrutineers at authorised call centres
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20 Scrutineers at authorised call centres
(1) A candidate in an election for which voting by a secure telephone vote is available may appoint scrutineers to attend at each authorised call centre for the purpose of monitoring performance of the duties of call centre operators. (2) A candidate is not entitled to be represented at an authorised call centre at a particular time by a number of scrutineers that is greater than the number of call centre operators performing duties at that time. (3) The appointment of a scrutineer must be made by notice, in writing: (a) addressed to a Returning Officer; and (b) signed by the candidate or the appointer (as the case requires); and (c) stating the scrutineer’s name and address. (4) A scrutineer appointed under subsection (1) who has not complied with subsection 202A(3) of the Act must not attend an authorised call centre to discharge a scrutineer’s functions. (5) A scrutineer commits an offence if: (a) the scrutineer attends an authorised call centre; and (b) the scrutineer attempts to interfere with the duties of a call centre operator or of an Assistant Returning Officer.
Penalty: 5 penalty units.
(6) A scrutineer commits an offence if: (a) the scrutineer attends an authorised call centre; and (b) the scrutineer communicates with an individual at the authorised call centre; and (c) the communication is not reasonably necessary for the discharge of the scrutineer’s functions.
Penalty: 5 penalty units.
(7) This section does not prevent a scrutineer from objecting to: (a) how a person has performed, or purported to perform, a function or duty under this instrument; or (b) how a person has exercised, or purported to exercise, a power under this instrument; or (c) a failure to perform or exercise such a function, duty or power.
Note: For example, a scrutineer may object to how a call centre operator has marked a ballot paper under section 14 or to a ballot paper being placed in an envelope under that section by a call centre operator.