2024 Mid-Western Regional council by-election

Bulletin No.3
Issued 13 November 2024

Registration of electoral material reminder

Registration of electoral material closes 5pm on Friday, 29 November 2024. Late applications cannot be accepted. 

Electoral material, including how-to-vote cards handed out on election day, must be registered with the NSW Electoral Commission. 

Download the form LGBY.212 Application to register electoral material and register your electoral material by emailing candidates@elections.nsw.gov.au.

Ballot paper template 

The ballot paper template to assist in the preparation of electoral material is available on our website. 

When including a sample of the ballot paper on how-to-vote material, the details must be an accurate representation of the ballot paper; for example, the spelling of candidates’ names, registered political party names and the inclusion of the word ‘Independent’. This information must appear exactly as it will be on the ballot paper for the election. Partial representations of the ballot paper may be accepted. 

Social media authorisation 

Political parties, candidates and third-party campaigners should ensure they are aware of the authorisation requirements in relation to electoral material when posting publicly on social media platforms during the regulated period. Further information is available in the Candidate handbook. 

Display of registered electoral material on website 

Registered electoral material will be displayed under the View electoral material accordion on the NSW Electoral Commission website from Monday, 25 November 2024 until 6pm on election day. 

Electoral material that is registered prior to the closure of registration of electoral material will be progressively updated on our website. 

Guide to creating accessible documents 

We encourage political participants to make all registered electoral material accessible so that electors who require reading support or assistive technology can access the materials. 

Please refer to the Creating accessible documents guide for assistance. 

Venues and voting projections

Polling place locations and opening hours 

The locations and opening hours of pre-poll and election day centres are now available on the NSW Electoral Commission website under Where do I vote?.

Projections 

Pre-poll (early voting) and election day voting centre projections are available on our website, to assist candidates and parties in preparing electoral material and organising candidate workers.

Voting options available to electors

Postal voting 

Postal vote applications close at 5pm on Monday, 2 December 2024.  

Postal packs will commence being mailed to electors on Tuesday, 12 November 2024. Electors must complete their ballot papers and postal vote certificates by 6pm on election day, Saturday, 7 December 2024. 

To be counted, completed postal votes must be received by the NSW Electoral Commission by 6pm on Friday, 20 December 2024.  

Pre-poll voting 

Pre-poll voting (early voting in person) is available on Saturday, 30 November and from Monday, 2 December to Friday, 6 December 2024. 

Telephone assisted voting 

Telephone assisted voting is only available to people who are blind or have low vision. Electors can apply and vote from 9am Saturday, 30 November 2024. Applications close at 6pm Friday, 6 December 2024, with voting closing at 1pm on election day. 

Election day 

Polling places will be open from 8am to 6pm on election day, Saturday, 7 December 2024.

Scrutineers and candidate workers/volunteers

Role of scrutineers 

Scrutineers represent candidates and political parties. Scrutineers are appointed to observe election processes and see that rules are followed fairly and impartially. A scrutineer’s presence provides an additional level of assurance to political participants and the public regarding the integrity and transparency of election processes.

Candidates may appoint scrutineers to represent them at any location where voting is carried out, declaration and postal vote envelopes are scrutinised, and where votes are counted. Information for political participants about scrutineering can be found in the Candidate handbook.  

Role of candidate workers and volunteers 

Candidate and party workers act on behalf of candidates and/or political parties to distribute electoral material (such as how-to-vote cards) at pre-poll voting locations prior to election day and polling places on election day. They are not required to complete any appointment form to engage in these tasks unless they also wish to also act as a scrutineer. 

More information about the role of party and candidate workers can be found in the Candidate handbook.