2024 Epping, Hornsby and Pittwater State by-elections bulletin No. 6

Bulletin No.6 
Issued 30 October 2024

Distribution of preferences and declaration of election results

The distribution of preferences to determine the elected candidate will be conducted at each of the Election Manager’s offices at 10am on Tuesday, 5 November 2024.

Candidates, scrutineers, the media or any interested persons are welcome to attend the distribution of preferences.

The distribution of preferences is conducted using the NSW Electoral Commission’s computer count system and will only take a few minutes to complete.

Unless a recount request is under consideration or a recount is to be conducted, the Electoral Commissioner will officially declare the result of the elections as soon as practicable 24 hours after the results of the distribution of preferences have been published.

Detailed information about the counting of votes and determination of results is available on our website including:

• the timeline and locations of scrutiny and counting of the final count of postal votes
• the check count results reports
• distribution of preferences
• recounts
• declaration of results.

Should you require further information please contact our helpdesk on 1300 022 011 or email candidates@elections.nsw.gov.au

Electoral funding and disclosure requirements

A reminder that political participants must be familiar with the rules that apply to political donations and electoral expenditure. Fact sheets that summarise the electoral funding requirements for political parties, candidates and third-party campaigners are available on our website.

Disclosure of political donations and electoral expenditure 

All candidates who participated in the Epping, Hornsby or Pittwater State by-elections also have disclosure obligations for the 2024/25 financial year as provided by section 9(4) of the Electoral Funding Act 2018. 

The following disclosure periods and due dates apply to all candidates and elected members:

• 1 January 2025 to 11 February 2025 – lodgement of disclosures of reportable political donations made or received from 1 July 2024 to 31 December 2024
• 1 July 2025 to 22 September 2025 - lodgement of disclosures for electoral expenditure incurred during the annual period 1 July 2024 to 30 June 2025
• 1 July 2025 to 11 August 2025 – lodgement of disclosures of reportable political donations made or received from 1 July 2024 to 30 June 2025.

A disclosure is required for each of the above periods for all candidates and elected members. If no donations were made and received or no electoral expenditure incurred during any of the above periods, a ‘nil’ disclosure is still required to be lodged. 

Donors must also complete annual disclosures of reportable political donations made (for major political donors only).

Disclosures can be made using Funding and Disclosure Online by following the instructions on entering data and completing a disclosure form. Information to be disclosed can be entered at any time from the start of the disclosure period until the disclosure lodgement.

Disclosures are made in a declaration containing a statement that all that is required to be disclosed has been disclosed. Penalties apply (including fines and prosecution) for failing to submit a disclosure by the deadline, making a false statement or making an incomplete disclosure without a reasonable excuse. Disclosure obligations apply even if no political donations were made or received, or if no electoral expenditure was incurred, and regardless of whether you are elected.

For more information on disclosures, go to our website. 

Public funding reimbursement from the Election Campaigns Fund

The NSW Electoral Commission will contact candidates eligible to make claims from the Election Campaigns Fund. For more information about the Election Campaigns Fund go to our website.