Counting begins for the Warrnambool City Council election

Leading candidate Vicki Jellie has finished with a third of the Warrnambool City Council primary vote.

Candidates were informed of their votes on Monday afternoon.

At 9.30am Tuesday the computer button on preferences will be pushed and we will soon after know the make up of a very new-look council.

After 21,410 votes counted:

BLAIN, Ben 1288

ANDERSON, Jacinta 159

BURKE, Jim 622

TOGNI, Tracey 517

ARNOTT, Debbie 578

McCLUSKEY, Michael 386

PASPALIARIS, Angie 1534

CAMPBELL, Bruce 501

MOORE, Steve 297

ZIEGELER, Richard 750

CASSIDY, Sue 561

NEOH, Michael 683

EARNSHAW, Anthony 228

GASTON, Kylie 402

CAMPBELL, Thomas 254

PRIGG, Cassandra 200

JELLIE, Vicki 6526

TAYLOR, Max 619

OWEN, David 344

WALSH, Matthew 532

HUDSON, Lynn 691

SQUIRES, Andrew 154

SYCOPOULIS, Peter 813

AKOCH, Otha 2771.

At Monday, 4pm:

With more than 80 per cent of the votes counted, preferences are set to decide a number of the positions on the new-look Warrnambool City Council.

At least 19,000 of the 22,000 votes cast have been counted with the quota to reach a guaranteed spot on the council about 2700 votes.

It is expected that at 9.30am on Tuesday the button on the computer to count preferences will be hit, with elected candidates popping up in seconds.

The official declaration of new candidates is set to follow at 11.30am at the Lighthouse Theatre.

Leading candidate Vicki Jellie has attracted 6004 votes, well ahead of Otha Akoch on 2494, Angie Paspaliaris on 1348 and Ben Blain on 1173.

Ms Jellie has already polled twice as many votes than the most popular candidate at the 2016 election, Mike Neoh, who then got 2003 first-preference votes.

Former councillor Peter Sycopoulis has secured 747 votes, while Richard Ziegeler on 694 and Lynn Hudson on 628 round out the top seven.

Just outside the top seven is Mike Neoh 606, Jim Burke on 565, Max Taylor 562, Debbie Arnott 539, Sue Cassidy 523.

Experts are saying that Ms Jellie, Mr Akoch, Ms Arnott, Ms Paspaliaris and Mr Ziegeler look almost certain to be elected.

The last two spots on the seven-person council will come down to preferences with Mr Blain, Mr Burke, Ms Hudson and Mr Sycopoulis all in with a chance to gain a seat at the council table.

Other results include: Tracey Togni 461, Bruce Campbell 455, Matthew Walsh 450, Kylie Gaston 364, Michael McCluskey 354, David Owen 298, Steve Moore 268, Thomas Campbell 227, Anthony Earnshaw 212, Cassandra Prigg 171, Anderson 136 and Andrew Squires 136.

At the 2016 election, no candidate reached their quota on first preferences alone with preferences deciding the outcome of the election.

In that case, the flow of preferences resulted in the top seven candidates being elected.

UPDATE, Monday, 10.45am:

With about 80 per cent of the votes counted, Warrnambool City Council 's last two spots will be decided by minor preferences.

There have been 18,486 votes counted.

Of that leading candidate Vicki Jellie has attracted 5758 votes, well ahead of Otha Akoch on 2350, Angie Paspaliaris on 1255 and Ben Blain on 1114.

Ms Jellie has already polled twice as many votes than the most popular candidate at the 2016 election, Mike Neoh, who then got 2003 first preference votes.

Former councillor Peter Sycopoulis has secured 703 votes, while Richard Ziegeler on 655 and Lynn Hudson on 600 round out the top seven.

Just outside the top seven is Mike Neoh 561, Jim Burke on 542, Max Taylor 533, Debbie Arnott 508, Sue Cassidy 501.

With about 22,000 expected to be counted, the quota for election is about 2700.

The rest of the primary votes are expected to be counted today.

On Tuesday morning at 9.30am, the button on the computer to count preferences will be hit, with elected candidates popping up in seconds.

The poll will be declared at the Lighthouse Theatre at 11.30am Tuesday.

Experts are saying that Ms Jellie, Mr Akoch, Mrs Arnott, Ms Paspaliariss and Mr Ziegeler look almost certain to be elected.

The last two spots on the seven-person council will come down to preferences with Mr Blain, Mr Burke, Ms Hudson and Mr Sycopoulis all in with a chance to gain a seat at the council table.

After 18,486 votes counted:

BLAIN, Ben 1114

ANDERSON, Jacinta 110

BURKE, Jim 542

TOGNI, Tracey 430

ARNOTT, Debbie 508

McCLUSKEY, Michael 338

PASPALIARIS, Angie 1255

CAMPBELL, Bruce 424

MOORE, Steve 256

ZIEGELER, Richard 655

CASSIDY, Sue 501

NEOH, Michael 561

EARNSHAW, Anthony 200

GASTON, Kylie 346

CAMPBELL, Thomas 205

PRIGG, Cassandra 156

JELLIE, Vicki 5758

TAYLOR, Max 533

OWEN, David 272

WALSH, Matthew 419

HUDSON, Lynn 600

SQUIRES, Andrew 130

SYCOPOULIS, Peter 704

AKOCH, Otha 2350.

On Friday 4.30pm: Vicki Jellie continues to dominate the Warrnambool City Council election count.

With 8600 votes counted, Ms Jellie now has 2731 votes ahead of Otha Akoch on 1072, Angie Paspaliaris on 607 and Ben Blain on 485.

Ms Jellie has already polled more votes than the most popular candidate at the 2016 election, Mike Neoh, who got 2003 first preference votes.

Former councillor Peter Sycopoulis has secured 352 votes so far while Richard Ziegeler on 307 and Lynn Hudson on 288 round out the top seven.

Just outside the top seven is Jim Burke on 268, Mike Neoh 253, Max Taylor 242 and Debbie Arnott at 248 .

But with other candidates not far behind, thousands of votes still yet to council and preferences yet to be allocated, just how the field will finish up looking is still unclear.

On the current voting trend it appears that Ms Jellie, Mr Akoch and Ms Paspaliaris will get elected.

The official final results are expected to be known next week.

After 8600 votes counted:

JELLIE, Vicki 2731

AKOCH, Otha 1072

PASPALIARIS, Angie 607

BLAIN, Ben 485

SYCOPOULIS, Peter 352

ZIEGELER, Richard 307

HUDSON, Lynn 288

BURKE, Jim 268

NEOH, Michael 253

ARNOTT, Debbie 248

TAYLOR, Max 242

CASSIDY, Sue 217

CAMPBELL, Bruce 210

TOGNI, Tracey 187

WALSH, Matthew 175

GASTON, Kylie 162

McCLUSKEY, Michael 146

MOORE, Steve 125

OWEN, David 121

CAMPBELL, Thomas 94

EARNSHAW, Anthony 91

PRIGG, Cassandra 87

ANDERSON, Jacinta 71

SQUIRES, Andrew 61

UPDATE, Friday, 9.50am:

The Vicki Jellie ticket continues to dominate the Warrnambool City Council election.

With 5618 votes counted, Ms Jellie now has 1775 votes ahead of Otha Akoch on 665, Angie Paspaliaris on 397 and Ben Blain on 341.

Former councillor Peter Sycopoulis has secured 256 votes so far while Richard Ziegeler on 205 and Jim Burke on 182 round out the top seven.

Just outside the top seven is Lynn Hudson on 177, Max Taylor 171, Debbie Arnott 161 and Mike Neoh at 162.

On the current voting trend it appears that Ms Jellie, Mr Akoch, Ms Paspaliaris and the well preferenced Ms Arnott will be elected ahead of Mr Ziegeler.

Of the last two spots preferences from Tracey Togni and Matt Walsh may well help Mr Burke get elected.

Depending of preference flow the leading candidates for the seventh spot are Mr Taylor, Mr Blain, Mr Sycopoulis and Mr Neoh.

Experts say the race for seventh spot is a complete raffle.

After 5619 votes counted:

BLAIN, Ben 341

ANDERSON, Jacinta 48

BURKE, Jim 182

TOGNI, Tracey 118

ARNOTT, Debbie 161

McCLUSKEY, Michael 90

PASPALIARIS, Angie 397

CAMPBELL, Bruce 136

MOORE, Steve 80

ZIEGELER, Richard 205

CASSIDY, Sue 136

NEOH, Michael 162

EARNSHAW, Anthony 51

GASTON, Kylie 115

CAMPBELL, Thomas 63

PRIGG, Cassandra 61

JELLIE, Vicki 1775

TAYLOR, Max 171

OWEN, David 63

WALSH, Matthew 117

HUDSON, Lynn 177

SQUIRES, Andrew 37

SYCOPOULIS, Peter 256

AKOCH, Otha 665.

At Thursday 2.21pm:

Vicki Jellie has extended to her lead in the Warrnambool City Council election with just 20 per cent of the vote counted, unofficial figures show.

Ms Jellie now has 1532 votes ahead of Otha Akoch on 579, Angie Paspaliaris on 348 and Ben Blain on 285.

Former councillor Peter Sycopoulis has secured 214 votes so far while Richard Ziegeler on 174 and Jim Burke on 163 round out the top seven.

Just outside the top seven is Lynn Hudson on 151, Max Taylor 146, Debbie Arnott 145 and Mike Neoh at 138.

Other votes include: Bruce Campbell 120, Sue Cassidy 113, Tracey Togni 106, Matthew Walsh 103, Kylie Gaston 94, Michael McCluskey 74, David Owen 63, Steve Moore 62, Thomas Campbell 58, Cassandra Prigg 57, Anthony Earnshaw 47, Jacinta Anderson 42 and Andrew Squires 28.

At, Thursday, 8.15am:

High-profile candidate Vicki Jellie continues to dominate the Warrnambool City Council election on unofficial figures, attracting almost a third of the primary vote in the 24-candidate field.

With 3223 votes counted, Ms Jellie has polled 1026 votes, well clear of her nearest rivals as sitting councillors struggle to gain traction.

Otha Akoch is sitting second with 393 votes, Angie Paspaliaris 232, Ben Blain 190 and Richard Ziegeler 119.

Of the sitting councillors who renominated Peter Sycopoulis has 135 votes, Michael Neoh 86, Kyle Gaston 55, Sue Cassidy 45 and David Owen 37.

Other leading candidates include Lynn Hudson 113, Max Taylor 110, Jim Burke 107 and Debbie Arnott 99.

Election experts are tipping that Ms Jellie is not only guaranteed to get in, but a great chance to be the new mayor of Warrnambool, such is her domination of the poll.

Mr Akoch, Ms Paspaliaris and Mr Blain are also expected to be elected on the current voting trend.

Ms Arnott is also almost guaranteed to be elected due to her high ranking in preferences.

That makes five of the seven councillors that will earn a place at the council table.

Mr Ziegeler is seen as an early favourite for the sixth spot, with some preferences expected to flow his way.

The seventh spot is seen as a complete raffle, with leading contenders sitting councillors Mr Sycopoulis and Mr Neoh, as well as Ms Hudson, Mr Taylor 110 and Mr Burke.

The Victorian Electoral Commission is declining to release any voting figures despite the high public interest in the performances of the 24 candidates.

VEC Warrnambool office election manager Ian Sadler said it would be Tuesday or Wednesday next week before an official result was known.

After 3223 votes counted:

BLAIN, Ben 190

ANDERSON, Jacinta 28

BURKE, Jim 107

TOGNI, Tracey 68

ARNOTT, Debbie 99

McCLUSKEY, Michael 48

PASPALIARIS, Angie 232

CAMPBELL, Bruce 75

MOORE, Steve 41

ZIEGELER, Richard 119

CASSIDY, Sue 66

NEOH, Michael 86

EARNSHAW, Anthony 33

GASTON, Kylie 55

CAMPBELL, Thomas 34

PRIGG, Cassandra 45

JELLIE, Vicki 1026

TAYLOR, Max 110

OWEN, David 37

WALSH, Matthew 65

HUDSON, Lynn 113

SQUIRES, Andrew 18

SYCOPOULIS, Peter 135

AKOCH, Otha 393.

Wednesday: Early counting has put high-profile candidate Vicki Jellie as the clear leader in the race for a seat on Warrnambool City Council.

The face behind the city's fight for a cancer centre had received 675 of more than 2000 votes counted as of Wednesday afternoon, according to unofficial figures seen by The Standard.

But there are still thousands of votes to be counted.

A number of voting centres in south-west shires were last week updating the count daily, but that came to an end when the Victorian Electoral Commission stepped in and put a stop to it saying the results could be misleading.

Also polling well was Otha Akoch who had clinched 265 votes out of the 2099 that had been counted so far.

Angie Paspaliaris and Ben Blain were also attracting a larger percentage of the votes with 154 and 114 votes respectively.

The numbers taper off after that, but with just a small number of votes actually having been counted and preferences coming into play, the early results fail to give any clear picture of who will win a seat.

Other leading candidates include Richard Ziegeler 85, Max Taylor 77, Lynn Hudson 64, Jim Burke 62, Debbie Arnott 61 and Bruce Campbell 56.

Of the sitting councillors Peter Sycopoulis has 88 votes, Michael Neoh 62, Sue Cassidy 39, Kyle Gaston 36 and David Owen 20.

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