Local government election 2021: Former councillors re-elected to represent Inverell

First preference vote counting commenced for the positions of councillor and there are nine councillors to be elected from 11 candidates.

Voters went to the polls on Saturday and while the count continues for the new council to lead the shire, a number of councillors have already claimed victory.

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Group B, consisting of Paul Harmon and Kate Dight, secured 32.53 per cent of the first preference votes, shoring up their positions.

While group A followed closely behind with Di Baker and Jo Williams feeling sure of their seats with 30.67 per cent of the votes.

"Thank you to all the voters who have supported me and I look forward to doing some good work in the future for our shire," Ms Baker said. "I've always been a hard worker and contributed to the team effort and will continue to do so."

Group C - Paul King and Wendy Wilks - sits at 13.16 per cent for now.

Across the local government area, 12,871 residential and non-residential electors were enrolled in the region.

At the last update at 7.30am Sunday, 8630 votes had been counted since polls closed at 6pm on Saturday.

Nicky Lavender is leading the ungrouped count with 488 votes or six per cent. She is closely followed by Stewart Berryman with 482 votes. Behind them is "Jacko" Ross (392), Phil Girle (294) and Jacki Watts (267).

The informal vote count sits at 5.76 per cent.

The return of completed postal vote certificates close on December 17.

The distribution of preferences will start on December 21 with the progressive declaration of results through until December 23.

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