Council Elections

The next NSW Local Government elections will be held on Saturday 4 December 2021. Voting is compulsory.

2021 NSW LOCAL GOVERNMENT ELECTIONS Saturday 4 December 2021
 

The date for the Local Government elections in NSW has been changed from 4 September to 4 December, with the following implications:

• Current councillors and popularly elected mayors will continue to hold their civic offices until council elections are held on 4 December 2021.

• Councils will not be required to hold by-elections to fill vacancies or to apply to the Minister to dispense with the requirement to hold a by-election before ordinary council elections are held on 4 December 2021.

• Mayoral elections must be held for mayors elected in September 2019 when their two year-terms expire in September 2021.

• Mayors elected in September 2020 will continue to hold office until council elections are held on 4 December 2021.

• Chairpersons of county councils now hold office for two years. Chairpersons of county councils elected in September 2020 will continue to hold office until council elections are held on 4 December 2021.

• The composition of joint organisation boards may need to change in September 2021 if mayors of member councils elected by councillors are not re-elected.

• The postponement of the next ordinary local government elections will not affect the timing of future council elections, and the subsequent ordinary local government elections will still proceed in September 2024.

Important dates 

25 Oct 2021    Close of electoral rolls (6 pm)
     Candidate nominations open
03 Nov 2021   Close of candidate nominations (12 pm)
     Registration of electoral materials commences
05 Nov 2021   Caretaker period commences
22 Nov 2021   Pre-poll voting opens
26 Nov 2021   Registration of electoral material closes (5 pm)
27 Nov 2021   Declared institution voting commences
29 Nov 2021   Postal vote applications close (5 pm)
03 Dec 2021   Declared institution voting closes (6 pm)
    Pre-poll voting closes (6 pm)
04 Dec 2021   Election day (8 am-6 pm)
17 Dec 2021   Return of postal votes closes (6 pm)
21 – 23 Dec 2021 Results declared progressively as counts are finalised by election manager

Running for Council

Councillors are elected by their local community to represent community views on Council, provide leadership and make sure local needs are met. They achieve this by directing Council's affairs, allocating resources for the benefit of the local area, developing policies and reviewing Council's performance in relation how it is delivering services and other matters.

Being a Councillor can be rewarding because it provides an opportunity to: 

• Make decisions that help people within the local community;
• Influence the long term, strategic direction of a local community;
• Learn new skills such as public speaking and advocacy;
• Work with a broad cross section of the community on a diverse range of issues.

More information on being a candidate and a short power point presentation and video here.

A series of online candidate information sessions will be conducted by the NSW Electoral Commission (NSWEC) in the lead up to the 2021 NSW Local Government elections.

The webinars will cover the following topics:

• Election overview
• Election funding and disclosure
• Registration of candidates, groups, and third-party campaigners
• Electoral material (also known as how-to-vote - material)
• Nomination process
• Early voting and election day voting
• Candidate workers and scrutineers
• Counting and results

Some of these sessions will also be broadcast from each of our Council offices.

Webinars will be recorded and placed on the NSWEC website.

Find out more and register >> https://bit.ly/3e35czl

More information (including information for candidates)

Thinking of nominating as a candidate for your local council?

If you’re considering nominating as a candidate for the 2021 NSW Local Government elections, you should read this notice. It provides general guidance about the process of nominating, and candidates’ obligations and responsibilities. Prospective candidates should seek their own independent legal advice if they are unsure whether they are eligible to run for public office in a local council or how the law applies to their specific circumstances.

To nominate as a Councillor you must lodge a nomination form, either by delivering it to the Returning Officer or by using the Electoral Commission’s online nomination system. Nominating incorporates the following:
Part A – Candidate details
Part B – Nominator details
Part C - Candidate information sheet
Part D – Statistical information sheet and a nomination deposit.

Grouping of Councillor candidates on the ballot paper
Two or more Councillor candidates may form a group on the ballot paper, and where eligible, request a group voting square (box above the line) be printed on the ballot paper for the group. In addition to lodging the nomination form listed above, these candidates must also lodge a Request to form a group form.

Nomination deposit
All candidates must pay a nomination deposit of $125 each to the NSW Electoral Commission. Where candidates also lodge a Request to form a group, the deposit is capped at $625 for a group of five candidates or more. If using the online nominations system, the deposit must be paid by either MasterCard or VISA. If using paper nomination forms, the nomination deposit must be paid by cash or bank or building society cheque.

Start your nomination now
The NSW Electoral Commission’s online nominations system is now available at elections.nsw.gov.au
You can start the process of nominating online now. Alternatively, paper nomination forms are available by calling the Commission’s candidate helpdesk on 1300 022 011.

Lodge your nomination
Nominations must be lodged online or by post by 3 November 2021. Late nominations will not be accepted. However, if using paper nomination forms, you must lodge your nomination and deposit with the Returning Officer for the council area in which you intend to stand as a candidate. Returning Officer office locations can be found at elections.nsw.gov.au/lge21

Registration for electoral funding purposes
NSW has strict laws that regulate the election campaign finances of political parties, candidates and groups at the election. These include requirements to operate a campaign account, and to record and disclose political donations and electoral expenditure. In addition, there are caps on political donations and electoral expenditure.

Prior to being nominated, candidates and groups can separately apply to the NSW Electoral Commission to be registered for electoral funding regulation purposes. Only once successfully registered is a candidate or group allowed to accept political donations and pay for electoral expenditure.

To learn more go to elections.nsw.gov.au/funding-and-disclosure. Enquiries about being registered and the laws that apply to political donations and electoral expenditure should be sent to fdc@elections.nsw.gov.au

Ballot paper draw
A draw to determine the order of groups (where applicable) and candidate names on the ballot paper will be conducted at the office of the relevant Returning Officer at (date to be advised). The ballot paper draw may be observed in person by candidates, representatives of registered political parties and the media, subject to the capacity of the Returning Officer’s office and COVID-19 safety measures. Attendees will be required to register their attendance via the Service NSW app and to comply with physical distancing requirements. Attendees may also be required to wear a face mask.

Further information:

• Visit elections.nsw.gov.au

• Email the candidate helpdesk candidates@elections.nsw.gov.au

• Call the candidate helpdesk 1300 022 011. If you are deaf, hard of hearing and/or have a speech impairment, please contact the NSW Electoral Commission through the National Relay Service (NRS). Choose your access option and ask for 1300 135 736. If you need an interpreter, please call TIS National on 131 450 and ask them to call the NSW Electoral Commission on 1300 135 736.

Voting

Voting, including postal vote applications, is managed by the NSW Electoral Commission. The commission will update its webpage closer to the election with options for voting. This will include pre-polling, postal and in-person voting options. Postal votes will be available to voters from all states in Australia. Check your enrolment.

Residential roll
All electors enrolled on the NSW State electoral roll as at 6 pm Monday 25 October 2021 residing in Murrumbidgee Local Government Area will be included on the residential roll for the election. To update your enrolment details online or to obtain a residential enrolment form visit aec.gov.au or call 13 23 26. If you are not enrolled, you need to do so by 25 October.

Due to the resignation of Cr Austin Evans, Cr Pat Brown was elected at a by-election in the Murrumbidgee East Ward held on 10 March 2018.

Local Government Election 2017

Local Government elections were held in NSW on Saturday 9 September 2017

Visit the Electoral Commission website to see the results

Candidates were as follows:

JERILDERIE WARD

There was NO election in the Jerilderie Ward.

Mrs Faith BRYCE
Mrs Ruth McRAE
Mrs Angelina (Gaila) SMITH

Councillor Candidates - Jerilderie Ward   UNCONTESTED

MURRUMBIDGEE EAST WARD

There was NO election in the Murrumbidgee East Ward.

Mr Robert BLACK
Mrs Christine CHIRGWIN
Mr Austin EVANS

Councillor Candidates - Murrumbidgee East Ward   UNCONTESTED

MURRUMBIDGEE WARD

There were six nominations for three Councillor vacancies within the Murrumbidgee Ward. The ballot paper order and successful candidates were:

Mr Phillip WELLS - Elected
Mr Gavin GILBERT - Elected
Mr Paul Goodsall
Mr Robert Curphey - Elected
Mr Gordon Beaumont
Mr Allan Strachan

Councillor Candidates - Murrumbidgee Ward

For more information about local Council elections visit NSW Electoral Commission or Office of Local Government or their page on becoming a Councillor