Voting in the 2024 NSW Local Government elections will begin across the state from tomorrow, Saturday, 7 September.
Acting NSW Electoral Commissioner Dr Matthew Phillips said voting is compulsory at council elections in NSW, so anyone unable to vote on election day, should plan their vote now.
“Pre-poll voting is open only to those who are eligible. Eligibility criteria is available on our website, along with opening hours and venues.”
You may be eligible to vote in person before election day at an early voting centre for a local government election if you:
- will be outside your ward or council area on election day
- will be more than 8km from a voting centre (polling place) in your ward or council area on election day
- will be travelling and unable to attend a voting centre on election day
- are seriously ill or infirm, and due to such illness or infirmity will be unable to attend a voting centre
- are approaching maternity
- have religious membership or beliefs that prevent you from attending a voting centre on election day
- are in a correctional centre and prevented from attending a voting centre on election day
- are caring for a person outside of a hospital setting, which prevents you from attending a voting centre on election day
- will be working on election day
- are a silent elector
- are a person with a disability
- believe that attending a voting centre on election day will place your personal safety or the safety of your family at risk.
“Voting venues, candidates and other key voter information can be found using the address look-up tool at elections.nsw.gov.au,” he said.
Dr Phillips said pre-poll locations will operate in each council area from Saturday, 7 September to Friday, 13 September, not including Sunday, 8 September.
“Opening hours will vary, so make sure you check when your chosen pre-poll place will be open before heading out to vote.”
“Unlike at State elections, you must vote within your council area or ward at local council elections. There is no absentee voting,” he said.
Dr Phillips said the Commission is also responding to strong demand to vote by post, with 376,145 applications received since Tuesday, 6 August.
“It’s great to see NSW voters are planning ahead, but don’t leave filling out your postal pack to the last minute. If you’ve received yours, read the instructions carefully and make sure you’ve completed it before 6pm on election day.”
Postal applications close at 5pm on Monday, 9 September. To be counted postal votes must be completed on or before 6pm on election day and received by the NSW Electoral Commission no later than 6pm on Friday, 27 September.
More information is available from the NSW Electoral Commission website
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