Albany councillor Chris Thomson pleads guilty to vote handling charge

City of Albany councillor Chris Thomson has pleaded guilty to a vote handling charge related to last year’s local election. Prosecutors told the Albany Magistrate’s Court this morning Thomson, 52, handled two votes — sealed in postal envelopes — during his election campaign for a council seat to represent Albany’s Yakamia ward. The court was told Thomson had taken possession of the votes from residents on McKail Street in Orana while door-knocking on October 2. “Being a candidate in an election, in relation to the election, took custody of an envelope in which there was a postal vote,” the charge he pleaded guilty to reads. Thomson beat five other candidates, including incumbent Cr Anthony Moir, to become a councillor for the ward. His defence counsel, Carolyn Smiddy-Brown, said Thomson’s intention was to post the votes for the electors — not tamper with them. Ms Smiddy-Brown said Thomson confessed to the crime when approached by a WA Electoral Commission receiving officer. He is due to return to court on August 14 for sentencing. Information about the offence of taking custody of postal votes is highlighted on the Department of Local Government, Sport and Cultural Industries website. It was also included in the City of Albany and WA Electoral Commission’s 2019 candidate information manuals.