Your guide to NSW local government elections - why, how, where and when to vote

Local government elections are coming up in NSW. It’s probably the least sexy and most complicated poll in which you are required to participate, so you may not have been paying much attention.

That’s why we’ve provided this guide to help you understand why, how, where and when to vote.

What is local government and why should we care about council elections?

In Australia, we have three tiers of elected governments – federal, state and local.

Councils, or local government, are responsible for your local suburb or town and the immediate surrounding area. They collect taxes (rates) from property owners in exchange for providing basic services – such as maintaining roads, collecting rubbish and providing amenities such as public toilets, swimming pools, libraries and museums.

How councils spend your money and prioritise certain services and facilities is decided by a mayor and councillors, who are elected by residents every four years. If you’ve got concerns about the roads or services in your local area, it’s best to get involved in the process of deciding who becomes your councillor.

But if I don’t care about local government do I still have to vote?

Yes, voting is compulsory in Australia for everyone aged 18 and over. If you don’t vote without a valid reason, you can be fined $55.

When are the next NSW council elections?

The 2024 local government election is on Saturday 14 September.

How, where and when can I vote?

You can attend a polling booth, often a local primary school or community hall near you, to vote between 8 am and 6 pm on election day. If you type your address on the NSW Electoral Commission’s lookup tool, it will inform you of the closest location to you to vote.

What if I’m out of town, working or unable to get to the polling booth on election day?

Pre-poll, or early voting, is available from Saturday 7 to Friday 13 September (except Sunday 8 September) for those with a valid reason for not voting on election day. Pre-poll locations can also be found by typing your address on the NSW Electoral Commission’s lookup tool.

You can also obtain a postal voting form by applying online, but you’ll need to do so by Monday 9 September.

If I’m outside my council area or in another state, can I vote at another polling booth on election day?

Unlike state and federal elections, you cannot vote in a different polling booth outside your area on election day. If you’re going to be away, you need to arrange to vote either on a pre-poll day or by postal vote.

How do I vote?

Voting formats are different for each council, so you’ll need to follow the instructions on your ballot paper.

Preferential voting is used to determine councillors – meaning you write the number one (1) next to the candidate more preferred, two (2) against the name of your second preference and so on.

You may get a separate ballot paper to vote for mayor and a separate ballot paper to vote for councillors.

Councillors may be grouped together in voting alliances, in which case you can vote for groups or vote for individual councillors. Some ballot papers give you the choice of voting above the line (for groups) or below the line (for individuals).

Some councils are divided into different wards. When you tell the NSW Electoral Commission official your address, they will give you the ballot paper for your ward – you then order your preferences to vote for councillors in your ward.

How can I find out information about which councillors I may vote for?

Region has been covering developments on local government matters and profiles of some councillors and council candidates. You could try going to the search option on the top of this page and entering the name of the council or councillor about which you wish to know more. Many councillors also have Facebook pages which tell you what they stand for and the issues on which they are campaigning. We have also put together a range of stories on local candidates that can be viewed here.

Does every council area in NSW have to vote on 14 September?

There are certain councils and wards across NSW that don’t have to vote in the 2024 council elections because the number of council candidate nominations received was less than the total number of candidates that are to be elected. Everyone nominated would therefore be elected, so the NSW Electoral Commission decided there was no point making people vote and called the election off in the following council shires: Berrigan, Cobar, Cowra, Junee and Warrumbungle. Elections are also off in the following wards: Greater Hume Shire Council – East Ward; Lachlan Shire Council – Wards A, B, D and E; Lockhart Shire Council – Ward A; Murray River Shire Council – Greater Wakool Ward; Murrumbidgee Shire Council – Jerilderie and Murrumbidgee East Wards; Penrith City Council – East Ward; Tenterfield Shire Council – Ward B; Uralla Shire Council – Mayor, Wards A and B and Warren Shire Council – Wards A, B and D.

More information on NSW Local Government elections can be found on the NSW Electoral Commission website.

Original Article published by Oliver Jacques on Region Riverina.