Labor, Greens, Family First name their candidates for Hammond in 2022
Belinda Owens, Tim White and Cameron Lock will face MP Adrian Pederick and three other challengers in the Murraylands at the state election.
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The final candidates running for Hammond at the state election have been revealed.
Six challengers will aim to unseat Liberal MP Adrian Pederick on election day, March 19, including:
- Labor’s Belinda Owens, a retail worker from Murray Bridge
- Family First’s Cameron Lock, a Christian school leader from Strathalbyn
- The Greens’ Tim White, a social worker from Adelaide
They will join independent candidate Airlie Keen, the Nationals’ John Illingworth and One Nation’s Tonya Scott on the campaign trail.
Nominations for the election closed at noon on Monday.
Returning officer Ken Coventry and several onlookers assembled at the old Westpac building on Bridge Street, Murray Bridge for a draw which determined the order in which the candidates will appear on people’s ballot papers.
Mr White won top spot, which is usually worth a few extra votes from people who simply number their papers from top to bottom.
Mr Pederick wound up in position seven.
Staff from the Electoral Commission of South Australia will count local votes in the old bank building after 6pm on election day, and postal votes the following Monday.
Mr Coventry said three times as many postal votes as usual had been cast in Hammond so far.
If that pattern holds true across the state – especially in more marginal seats – the statewide election result might take longer than usual to find out.
Meet the candidates for Hammond
Murray Bridge News will host a public forum with the candidates for Hammond at the Bridgeport Hotel on the evening of Wednesday, March 16.
- Book your free ticket: www.eventbrite.com.au.
Coorong voters, get to know your candidates for Mackillop
Voters in the Coorong district – all of which has shifted into the South East electorate of Mackillop for this election – will have their pick of five candidates.
Liberal MP Nick McBride, a grazier by trade, will seek a second term.
Up against him will be:
- Former Wattle Range Mayor Mark Braes, for Labor
- Tintinara farm manager Jonathan Pietzch, for the Nationals
- Family First candidate Dayle Baker
- One Nation candidate Pam Giehr
Mr McBride earned top spot on the ballot paper.
How to vote in the state election
Everyone who is enrolled to vote is required to do so on election day.
Postal voting is now open for anyone who will be unable to cast a vote at any time between 8am and 6pm on March 19.
An early voting centre will open for the same purpose next Monday, March 7, at the Edwards Square community centre in Murray Bridge – the former senior citizens’ centre.
Valid excuses for not voting on the day include remoteness from the nearest polling booth, late-stage pregnancy, work and caring duties.
- Apply for a postal vote: www.ecsa.sa.gov.au.
- Apply to vote early: www.ecsa.sa.gov.au.
Disclosure: The author served as an official witness to the Hammond ballot draw at Mr Coventry’s request.
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