28 July 2008

Ninety Returning Officers will today open their doors to the public as the countdown towards the 2008 local council elections begins.

The Returning Officers will be located in 40 metropolitan offices and 50 country offices, 23 of whom will have responsibility for more than one council.

“These are fully trained officers, many of them with previous experience who are responsible for running elections in 148 council areas on behalf of the NSW Electoral Commission,” said NSW Electoral Commissioner Colin Barry.

“Because the majority of councils are located outside the Sydney metropolitan area, most of our staff are based in regional and rural NSW.”

“They will be busy preparing for the candidate nomination process, processing postal vote and pre-poll applications and conducting the all-important ballot paper draw when nominations close at 12 noon on 13 August.”

More than four million electors will go to the polls on 13 September to choose their council for the next four years.

“It is important that people check their electoral roll details before the roll closes at 6pm on 4 August, especially those who have recently moved address and may now be living in a different council area or ward than the one recorded on the roll,” Mr Barry said.

“There is no absentee voting at local elections so people have to vote in the council or ward in which they are enrolled on Election Day.

“Anyone who won’t be in their council or ward on 13 September should consider voting early. Postal voting commences on 18 August and pre-polling begins on 1 September.”

Electors can verify their enrolment through the NSWEC website and must update their information by lodging a form with the Australian Electoral Commission before the roll closes. Forms are available from our website or any post office.

The website also has a council search facility where electors can find their nearest polling place.

Returning officer contact details are listed under each council profile available through the Media Centre link at www.elections.nsw.gov.au

Media Contact:  Adrian Kerr, Corporate Communications

(02) 9290 5954  adrian.kerr@elections.nsw.gov.au