24ACandidate nomination—pandemic arrangements

24A Candidate nomination—pandemic arrangements

(1) A declaration under regulation 24(3) may be signed without the presence of the election manager if, in the opinion of the election manager, it is unreasonable to require the candidate to sign the declaration in the election manager's presence because the candidate is unable to attend under a pandemic order made under section 165AI of the Public Health and Wellbeing Act 2008.

(2) If subregulation (1) applies, the election manager may require—

(a) evidence of the candidate's identity, including the full name, address, signature and a photograph of the candidate, to be submitted with the nomination form; and

(b) if the nomination form is lodged by a person on behalf of the candidate, the written authorisation of the candidate for the person to lodge the nomination form on the candidate's behalf.

(3) If subregulation (1) applies, the VEC may determine that a nomination form or nomination fee (or both) may be submitted to the election manager by electronic communication, if the VEC reasonably believes it is necessary to address the risks posed by a pandemic for which the pandemic order has been made.

(4) The VEC must not make a determination under subregulation (3) less than 40 days before the election day.

(5) If the VEC makes a determination under subregulation (3), the VEC must publish notice of the determination in the Government Gazette and on the VEC's Internet site.

(6) A notice under subregulation (5) must specify—

(a) if the VEC determined that a nomination form may be submitted by electronic communication, the means by which the nomination form may be submitted; and

(b) if the VEC determined that the nomination fee may be submitted by electronic communication, the means by which the nomination fee may be submitted.