It also shows the resonance that local issues have with the area’s voters with few of the votes drifting elsewhere.

The polls claimed one scalp, that of Fraser Buchanan, of Pambula, whose pitch for re-election failed.

During his four-year term as a councillor Mr Buchanan waged a strong campaign to restrict the size of retail development in Merimbula’s CBD but judging from the vote it would appear his enthusiasm for that restriction did not resonate with the community.

The election proved that the shire residents engaged fully in the democratic process. They exerted their independence and refused to be dictated to by the candidates’ how to vote cards.

Some 70 per cent of voters ignored the how to vote card opting instead to make their own preferences.

After counting had been completed, Returning Officer Greg Mulavey said the election had gone smoothly and there were no anomalies.

“There were 18,208 formal votes counted and 1156 informal votes,” he said.

Mr Mulavey said there were “at least 1000 people who sent in excuses for not voting while up to 10 per cent of others did not vote at all.”

“For instance there are those at university, on holidays or at sport, who wouldn’t vote,” he said.

“Some of those would be asked to explain their absence.

The election did not come cheap; it cost the council an estimated $180,000, about eight dollars a vote.