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Election notice 2: Notice of election and call for nomination proposals

Cowra Shire Council by-election

Saturday, 23 November 2024

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Nominating as a candidate 

Candidates are invited to nominate for the Cowra Shire Council by-election.

A person must be enrolled in the Cowra Shire Council local government area by 6pm on Monday, 30 September 2024 to nominate as a candidate.

A person may be proposed for nomination by either a registered political party or by two electors who are enrolled in the Cowra Shire Council local government area, and who were enrolled in that area no later than 6pm on Monday, 30 September 2024.

Nomination forms are available on the NSW Electoral Commission website. Candidates must also complete a candidate information sheet and statistical information sheet.

Nominations open on Monday, 14 October 2024 and close at noon on Wednesday, 23 October 2024.

Nomination forms and the nomination deposit must be lodged by noon on Wednesday, 23 October 2024. Late nominations or deposits cannot be accepted.

Nomination forms and the nomination deposit may be lodged in person at Cowra Shire Council, 116 Kendal Street, Cowra NSW. Nomination forms may also be sent by email to candidates@elections.nsw.gov.au but a nomination cannot be accepted until the nomination deposit is paid in person prior to the close of nominations at midday on Wednesday, 23 October 2024.

Nomination deposits must be paid in person at Cowra Shire Council, 116 Kendal Street, Cowra NSW by cash or by bank, building society or credit union cheque.

Candidate Information Sheets

Each candidate must lodge a candidate information sheet, which is included in the nomination form. The candidate information sheet is in the form of a statutory declaration, so it must be signed and witnessed by an authorised witness for the nomination to be valid. Only certain people are authorised to witness a NSW statutory declaration. We recommend either a:

  • justice of the peace - please note the NSW JP Public Register
  • public notary
  • lawyer (with a current practising certificate).

The content of each candidate information sheet will be published on the NSW Electoral Commission website and made available for inspection at the returning officer’s office, the pre-poll (early voting) venue and all polling places.

Nomination of candidates and ballot paper draw

The returning officer will officially nominate the candidates whose nomination papers have been validly lodged and conduct the ballot paper draw at 10am on Thursday 24 October 2024 at the returning officer’s office. The draw determines the order in which candidate names appear on the ballot paper.

Uncontested election

Should only one candidate be nominated, the election will be uncontested. If this occurs, a declaration of uncontested election will be made on Thursday 24 October 2024 and be published on the NSW Electoral Commission website.

Methods of voting

If the election is contested, it will be held on Saturday, 23 November 2024 and will be conducted by attendance (that is, in-person) voting and postal voting.

Postal voting applications will open at 9am on Tuesday, 15 October 2024 and close at 5pm on Monday, 18 November 2024.

Postal votes and certificates must be completed by 6pm on the election day, Saturday, 23 November 2024 and received by the NSW Electoral Commission no later than 6pm on Friday, 6 December 2024.

The locations and times for pre-poll voting (attendance voting prior to election day) are available on our website.

Further information

Matthew Phillips
Acting Electoral Commissioner