NSW Electoral Commission prioritises safety and transparency ahead of Local Government elections 

The NSW Electoral Commission has launched a suite of measures to deliver the 2024 NSW Local Government elections safely and transparently in an environment where voters are increasingly exposed to false and misleading narratives about electoral processes. 

The 2024 NSW Local Government elections will be held on Saturday, 14 September.  

Acting NSW Electoral Commissioner Dr Matthew Phillips said public trust in election outcomes is intrinsically linked to trust in the integrity of electoral processes and results.  

Independent research from the 2023 NSW State election found that 85 per cent of survey participants had high levels of satisfaction with the fairness and impartiality of the election and 90 per cent had confidence in the election results.   

“These are encouraging results, but there are emerging threats to these high levels of satisfaction and confidence in the delivery of elections in NSW.”  

“False information about elections circulating in the community has the capacity to negatively impact confidence in the electoral process and the results of elections.” 

Managing disinformation 

Dr Phillips said the NSW Electoral Commission was working closely with other government agencies and stakeholders to monitor for emerging threats to confidence in elections and direct voters to reliable sources of information.   

The Electoral Commission’s work to manage disinformation also includes: 

• The recent launch of our 2024-25 regulatory priorities to show where we will focus our regulatory efforts. 
• Continuing the NSW Electoral Commission’s Disinformation register  
• Running a ‘Stop and consider’ advertising campaign to help voters identify disinformation when they come across it. 

In addition, the Electoral Commission conducts ongoing monitoring of media and social media for disinformation and provides the correct information where appropriate.  

“Disinformation in relation to elections will be a continuing issue, but we can help reduce its impact and support voters to recognise it when they see it, particularly as it becomes more and more sophisticated.” 

1.1 Stop and consider campaign 

The ‘Stop and consider’ advertising campaign is now live across digital platforms, print and radio until  21 September 2024.  

Based on a similar campaign run by the Australian Electoral Commission, the campaign helps voters identify disinformation and misinformation, directs them to more reliable sources of information and educates voters about ways the NSW Electoral Commission manages disinformation. 

“We are asking voters to stop and consider the information they come across about the upcoming Local Government elections and check if the source is reliable before they believe it or share it further,” said Dr Phillips. 

“We would also encourage anyone who comes across disinformation about the electoral process to report it to us through our website – elections.nsw.gov.au.”  

Disinformation register 

The NSW Electoral Commission launched a Disinformation register for the 2023 NSW State election and will continue to update it in the lead up to the 2024 NSW Local Government elections. 

The register rebuts false and misleading statements about electoral processes in NSW.    

“We do not comment on whether campaign claims made by political participants (or their supporters) are true or false. As the independent administrator and regulator of elections in NSW, our focus is on the integrity of the electoral process itself,” said Dr Phillips.    

Find out more about this work.

2024-25 Regulatory priorities 

The Electoral Commission publishes regulatory priorities to show how and where it will focus its regulatory efforts for the year. 

Dr Phillips said the safety and integrity of elections are always priorities for the Electoral Commission, but particularly so in the current environment. 

The Regulatory priorities for 2024-25 are themed under: 

• education to support compliance by political participants in the elections  
• greater transparency by publishing information about enforcement activities   
• upholding the integrity of electoral processes and safe elections.  

“We saw the safety and wellbeing of election officials impacted at the 2023 NSW State election, based on false information circulating in the community. We had staff filmed and falsely accused of wrongdoing, while carrying out their duties, by members of the public,” said Dr Phillips.  

“These priorities are partly about managing the spread of disinformation as a safety issue as well.” 

New regulation in place  

A new regulation came into effect on 2 August 2024 that, among other things, will improve protections for election officials and scrutineers.  

Dr Phillips welcomed the introduction of the Local Government (General) Amendment (Elections) Regulation 2024. 

The regulation includes the following changes: 

• It is now an offence to film or photograph election officials and scrutineers while performing their duties, in a way that would likely make the official or scrutineer feel intimidated or harassed. It is also an offence to publish or distribute that film or photograph. 
• Election managers and polling place managers now have the ability to give health and safety directions at any election or place where voting is occurring.  

“No one should feel unsafe in their workplace. This regulation strengthens our ability to provide a safe workplace and also provides increased clarity about what constitutes harassment of workers and volunteers,” he said. 

Media contact 
nswecmedia@elections.nsw.gov.au