You can vote before election day as a postal voter if you:

• will not be in New South Wales during polling hours (8 am to 6 pm) on election day
• will not be within eight kilometres of any polling place open on election day during polling hours (8 am to 6 pm)
• will be travelling under conditions which will prevent you from voting at any polling place during polling hours (8 am to 6 pm) on election day
• are sick, infirm or approaching maternity and cannot attend a polling place
• are caring for a person, not in hospital, who is sick, infirm or approaching maternity and cannot travel to a polling place
• are a member of a religious order or have religious beliefs which prevent you from attending a polling place or voting during polling hours (8 am to 6 pm) on election day
• are in prison and are precluded from attending any polling place to vote
• will be working during polling hours (8 am to 6 pm) on election day and will not be able to attend at a polling place to vote
• are a silent elector.

Postal Vote Applications

To vote as a postal voter you must complete a postal vote application form, have it signed by an authorised witness (more information on authorised witnesses is provided with the form) and return it to the returning officer of the electoral district in which you are enrolled or the NSWEC. 

At the time of an election, application forms for postal votes are available on this website, at post offices and at returning officers’ offices.

If you need to vote by post, make sure you have your application in early so that voting material can be sent to you before election day.

The completed postal vote application forms must be received by the returning officer by 6 pm on the Monday before election day if sent from outside New South Wales or by 6 pm on the Wednesday before election day if sent from within New South Wales.  They can be faxed but not emailed.

Postal vote ballot papers

Once your application has been processed you will be sent postal vote ballot papers and a declaration envelope for their return. You must complete the ballot papers and sign and date the certificate in the presence of a witness. It can be handed in at any polling place on election day or posted to the returning officer.

Postal votes must be received by the returning officer by 6pm on the Wednesday after election day in order for them to be admitted to the count.

General postal voter

Certain electors may register as a general postal voter. General postal voters are automatically sent ballot papers at the time of a State or Local Government election.

Interstate and overseas voting

If you are interstate or overseas at the time of an election you can vote as a postal voter or in person as a pre-poll voter. For further details visit the Overseas Voting section or Interstate Voting section.