2021 NSW Local Government elections: Political Participants Bulletin No.4

Bulletin No 4 Issued 1 February 2021

2021 NSW Local Government elections: Political Participants Bulletin No.4 (PDF 0.04MB)

1. Attendance elections in September 2021

Voting safely at the 2021 NSW Local Government elections

As you are aware, in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Minister for Local Government postponed the 2020 ordinary elections for 12 months. Planning is underway for the delivery of the elections on Saturday 4 September 2021.

Learning from the experiences of other electoral commissions in recent elections around Australia and in New Zealand, we are undertaking a review of every election task from a COVID-safe perspective. Public health orders and circumstances are changing as the pandemic evolves and we will continue to make changes to our election plans as necessary. We will keep you up to date with information through future bulletins.

2. Visit our website for the latest information on elections

Our website will be regularly updated in the lead up to the elections and a number of online services will be available for parties and candidates:

• Election event page: Information on electoral processes, managing political donations and electoral expenditure and the six steps to becoming a candidate.
• Candidate Handbook: Available late April 2021.
• Funding and Disclosure Online: The online registration and disclosures management system is expected to be launched in the first half of 2021.  Candidates and groups will be able to apply to be registered for the election for funding and disclosure purposes through the portal. It is expected that end of financial year disclosures for the period ending 30 June 2021 will also be able to be made using the portal.
• Nomination Online Management System: Will be available from late June - early July 2021. Prospective candidates and groups can complete their nomination processes using the online system.
• Registration of Electoral Material Online: Electoral material distributed on election day must be registered. Registrations open Wednesday, 4 August 2021 and close 5pm Friday, 27 August 2021. An online system for the registration of electoral material will be available from Thursday, 5 August 2021 following the conduct of the draws for names on the ballot papers.

3. Electoral expenditure caps

Electoral expenditure caps will apply at the 2021 NSW Local Government elections. This means there is a limit on the amount of expenditure that can be incurred by political parties, candidates, groups and third-party campaigners.

The caps on electoral expenditure apply during the capped expenditure period for the election. This period starts on 1 July 2021 and finishes at the end of election day, 4 September 2021.

The caps that will apply to a Local Government Area or ward are determined by the number of enrolled electors in the area or ward 12 months prior to the election. For the purposes of determining the caps, the number of enrolled electors was determined by the Electoral Commissioner on 4 September 2020. The number of enrolled electors and the applicable caps for each area and ward can be found on our website.

All registered candidates, groups and third-party campaigners have been notified of the number of enrolled electors in their area or ward and the specific expenditure caps that will apply to them at the elections.

Detailed information about the rules that apply to expenditure caps can be found on our website.

4. Political donation disclosures

Political donation disclosures for the half-yearly period ending 31 December 2020 were due on 28 January 2021.  If you are a current councillor or mayor, or you were registered for the election as a candidate or group prior to 1 January 2021 and have not yet submitted your disclosure form you must do so without delay. The disclosure forms are available on our website. Disclosure forms must be lodged by each political party, local councillor and mayor, registered candidate, group, third-party campaigner, associated entity and member of the NSW Parliament.

5. NSW Electoral Commission operations in response to COVID-19 and new office location

The NSW Electoral Commission is now located in Elizabeth St, Sydney. Due to public health measures our office is not open to the public without a prior appointment being made.

Our call centres are open to take enquiries: for political participant enquiries call 1300 022 011 and for general enquiries call 1300 135 736.

If you would prefer to contact us in writing, direct your electoral funding, registration and disclosure enquires to fdc@elections.nsw.gov.au.

For all other election-related enquiries, visit the Contact Us page on our website and send us your enquiry via the online form. We will respond as soon as we can.

If you have any questions about the content of this bulletin please email fdc@elections.nsw.gov.au.