Probe into voters missing out on ballot

Voters in the NSW seat of Cowper have reportedly been refused absentee ballot papers, triggering an Australian Electoral Commission investigation.

Source: SBS

The electoral commission is investigating an incident in which voters were crossed off the roll but not given ballot papers.

The NSW seats of Lyne and Cowper have been extensively redrawn as part of the federal redistribution.

This meant voters who used to be in Lyne had to ask for Cowper ballot papers at their local booths.

Independent candidate Rob Oakeshott, who retired as the MP for Lyne in 2013, took on coalition MP Luke Hartsuyker in Cowper.

Mr Oakeshott said polling booths in North Haven and Bonny Hills, which are in Lyne, ran out of absentee ballot papers for the seat of Cowper.

The voters were told they would be signed off the electoral roll, but not able to cast a ballot.

A complaint was laid with Australian Electoral Commission officials at the Laurieton booth.

An AEC spokesman told AAP any report of this nature was investigated.

But the commission declined to comment further.