18 August 2008

Candidates contesting the 2008 local council elections will have until 5.00pm on Friday, 5 September to register their How-to-Vote material for Election Day.

“How-to-Vote material that is to be handed out on Election Day must be registered by the Returning Officer in each council area,” said NSW Electoral Commissioner Colin Barry.

Candidates who do not belong to a registered political party are permitted to use the names of organisations or community groups on their electoral material providing they do not mislead electors into thinking that the organisation is a registered political party and its name will appear on the ballot paper.

Independent candidates may include on their electoral material that they are a member of, or support a community group or organisation that is not a registered political party.

Mr Barry said How-to-Vote material that appeared to be offensive or obscene in the broadest possible sense would not be registered. 

“Attending a polling place is a different environment from the theatre, the cinema or performance spaces where the community has a choice regarding the material they view or read.
 
“Electoral material must meet the broadest community expectations of not causing offence to the broadest range of people in the community, from very young adults to older citizens of different views, beliefs and perspectives.”

Posters are not required to be registered but cannot be displayed within six metres of a polling place on Election Day. Posters displayed on fences around polling places cannot be larger than 8,000 square centimetres.

Candidates need to ensure that the necessary authorisations appear on the face of posters, including the name and address of the person who authorised the poster and the name and street address of the printer.

A poster cannot be displayed on Crown or council property or private property without the written permission of the owner.

Guidelines are available online at www.elections.nsw.gov.au under the Handbooks and Forms link.

Media Contact: Adrian Kerr, NSW Electoral Commission

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