2024 NSW Local Government elections: Political participants bulletin No.12

Bulletin No.12
Issued 26 September 2024

Election results

Detailed information about the counting of votes and determination of results for the 2024 NSW Local Government elections is available on our website.

Distribution of preferences

The distribution of preferences to determine the elected candidates can only be conducted after the close of receipt of postal votes at 6pm Friday, 27 September 2024 and the final counts of those votes.

Each contest’s distribution of preferences will be conducted at the applicable Returning Officer’s office using the NSW Electoral Commission’s computer count system. It is anticipated the distribution of preferences will be conducted between Monday, 30 September 2024 and Wednesday, 2 October 2024. This process will only take few minutes to complete.

The locations and the expected commencement date and time of each distribution of preferences can be found on the NSW Electoral Commission’s website.

Final count reports (under the Final results tab) will be published on the NSW Electoral Commission’s results website within an hour of the Distribution of preferences completing.

From the home page at the above link:

• select 'Results by Local Government Area' (from the left-hand menu)
• select your area from the list provided
• click on the link for your contest (Mayor or Councillor).

Declaration of results

Unless a recount request is under consideration or a recount is to be conducted, the Returning Officer will sign the Declaration of Results as soon as practicable 24 hours after the results have been published (that is, the recount deadline).

Recount requests

Recounts may only occur if:

• requested by a candidate in writing and accepted by the Electoral Commissioner, or
• directed by the Electoral Commissioner.

Any request for a recount must:

• be in writing, and
• be signed by the candidate, and
• set out the reason(s) for the request, and
• be lodged with the Returning Officer within 24 hours of the results being published.

Please note that the 24-hour period commences from the ‘Final results available' timestamp. To find the timestamp:

1. select the relevant contest on the Virtual tally room
2. select ‘Status history’ at the bottom of the Results page
3. refer to the date and time stamp next to the ‘Final results available’ status.

The request must set out the reasons why a recount is being requested, identifying the specific error or irregularity that it is alleged could potentially affect the election result, i.e. an error or irregularity in the scrutiny or counting of ballot papers.

A recount request should be lodged by email to:

• the NSW Electoral Commission at candidates@elections.nsw.gov.au, and
• the relevant Returning Officer (view the list of Returning Officer email addresses).

The Electoral Commissioner will consider the request and determine whether, and if so how, any recount is conducted. For example, depending on the circumstances in which a recount is required, the Commissioner may determine that all or only some of the ballot papers are to be recounted.

Information about requesting a recount can be found in the candidate handbook and in the Recount policy LG.566 on our website.

Enquiries should be directed to the candidate helpdesk at candidates@elections.nsw.gov.au or 1300 022 011.

Candidate information webinars

The next webinar will be held on Tuesday, 15 October at 11am and will cover the following topics:   

• disclosures and obligations post-election
• donations and expenditure rules for elected members, parties
• other post-election information
• compliance audit of disclosures

Please register your attendance.

Recordings of all previous webinars for the 2024 NSW Local government elections, including a webinar on Counting and results, are available on our website.