2014 Stafford state by-election
A by-election was conducted for the Queensland Legislative Assembly seat of Stafford on 19 July 2014 following 23 May resignation of LNP MP Chris Davis. The LNP won Stafford from [Australian Australian Labor Party (Queensland Branch)|Labor Party (Queensland Branch)|Labor] at the 2012 election with 57.1 percent of the two-party vote from a 14.4-point two-party swing. The 2014 Redcliffe by-election saw a 17.2-point two-party swing to Labor. Analysts predicted a Labor win with a 10–12-point two-party swing. Labor candidate Anthony Lynham won the by-election with a 62 percent two-party vote from a 19.1-point two-party swing.
This election was the first in Australia which required voter identification to be shown prior to receiving a ballot paper.
Key dates
- 19 June 2014: Issue of writ
- 25 June 2014: Close of electoral roll
- 3 July 2014: Close of nominations
- 7 July 2014: Pre-poll voting started
- 19 July 2014: Polling day
- 29 July 2014: Cut-off for return of postal votes
- 4 September 2014: Return of writ
Nominations
The four candidates in ballot paper order were as follows:Katter's Australian Party, which received 4.9 percent in 2012, did not re-contest Stafford at the by-election. Clive Palmer initially said the Palmer United Party would run in the by-election, but then said it was undecided whether the party would field a candidate. A candidate was not fielded.