4 August 2008

Residents in New South Wales have until 6.00pm tonight to enrol to vote or update their existing details in readiness for the NSW local council elections.

More than four million voters are expected to vote in 148 council areas on Saturday, 13 September.

To enrol to vote you must be 18 years of age or over, an Australian citizen and living at your current address for at least one month.

“There is no absentee voting at local council elections so it’s important that people are correctly enrolled in their right council area or ward, otherwise they won’t be able to vote on the day if outside that area,” said NSW Electoral Commissioner Colin Barry.

“Voting at these elections is the most direct way you can have a say about who represents you on your council over the next four years.”

There are three easy steps people can follow to make sure they meet Monday’s deadline:

1. Log onto www.elections.nsw.gov.au or www.aec.gov.au and verify your details

2. Download a form and fax the completed form to your AEC divisional office; or

3. Hand deliver a completed form to your AEC divisional office by 6pm Monday.

Enrolment forms can be downloaded from either websites or picked up at any post office.

The Australian Electoral Commission jointly manages the roll for NSW and can be contacted on 13 23 26 for enquiries about the roll or your enrolment details.

Questions about the local council elections can be directed to the NSW Electoral Commission’s Elector Enquiry Centre on 1300 135 736.

Nominations will open once the roll closes. Candidates will have until midday on 13 August to lodge their nomination.

Visit the Media Centre at www.elections.nsw.gov.au for an election snapshot, media releases, election handbook, council index, key dates, boundary maps and voting information.

Media Contact: Adrian Kerr, NSW Electoral Commission

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