The local government elections in New South Wales, Australia, are to be held on Saturday, 14 September 2024. These elections shall be held for the 126 local government councils across NSW when all their residents will be called together to vote for their local Councilors. Some councils shall also hold mayoral elections, constitutional referendums, and local polls on the same day. However, the Fairfield City Council and Liverpool City Council have opted for another route-that of outsourcing this process from a commercial election provider other than the NSW Electoral Commission.
Voter Information
- Voting is Compulsory : Except for council polls, which are optional, voting in NSW local government elections is compulsory for all eligible voters. If you are enrolled to vote in a particular council area or ward, you must vote in a voting venue in that area. You will not be allowed to vote in another council area.
- Key Dates and Deadlines:
- 1 July 2024: Capped expenditure period commenced – 22 July 2024: Councillor voter enrolment eligibility notice was advertised.
- 5 August 2024: Candidate nominations opened. The roll closed for candidates and nominators.
- 6 August 2024: Postal vote applications were available.
- 7 August 2024: Official publication of election and nomination notices and advertisements.
–19 August 2024: The distribution of the postal voting packs commenced
- 7 September 2024: Pre-poll voting was declared open to allow early voting for those unable to vote on election day.
- 14 September 2024: Election day, when all voting venues will be open throughout NSW.
- Voting: You will be able to vote in person at designated polling stations in your local area on
14 September or opt for a postal vote if you can’t make it in person. The NSW Electoral Commission provides a range of tools to help voters, including the address lookup, to find their correct polling place.
- Pre-Poll Voting: In case anybody shall not be in a position to vote on the election day, pre-poll votes are allowed. Centers for pre-poll voting open from 7th September 2024 and close on the day prior to the election.
- Election Integrity: The NSW Electoral Commission is open and candid about integrity in this election. They have laws regulating the dissemination of electoral materials and regulations about donations and campaign finance for just conduct during elections.
These elections will determine a great deal, either in leadership or in decisions, affecting local communities in NSW. It would be hoped that those eligible take every care to keep themselves informed about candidates and issues on the ballot and exercise an informed vote, which will affect their local government for the foreseeable future.
For further information on how to apply for a postal vote and the pre-poll venues, please go to the NSW Electoral Commission website.