THE ACT Electoral Commissioner Phillip Green says the name of the candidate elected to replace Mary Porter in the ACT Legislative Assembly should be known by March 3.

Mary formally resigned from the Assembly today, February 19.

“I am now able to outline the official timetable for filling the vacancy,” Phillip said.

“Legislative Assembly vacancies are filled by conducting a ‘count-back’ of those ballot papers that elected the vacating member. In effect, those electors who voted for Ms Porter determine her replacement.

“To begin the count-back process, an advertisement will appear on Monday 22 February 2016 in the Canberra Times, inviting candidates who unsuccessfully stood in the Ginninderra electorate at the 2012 election to contest the vacancy. Where practicable the Commission will also notify all those unsuccessful candidates directly,”

“Those candidates then have ten days to indicate if they wish to contest the vacancy. Applications from candidates must be received by 12.00 noon on Thursday 3 March 2016.

“At 12.30 pm on Thursday 3 March 2016, the names of the candidates contesting the vacancy will be officially declared. A computer counting program will then be used to determine which candidate will be elected to the Assembly to replace Ms Porter.

“It is expected that the official declaration of the result will take place the following Monday March 7, at 3.00 pm.

Labor’s Jayson Hinder (pictured) is widely tipped to be the winner.