2024 NSW Local Government elections: Political participants bulletin No.3
Bulletin No.3
Issued 15 July 2024
On this page
Nomination online management system now live
Our nomination online management system (NOMS) is now available on the NSW Electoral Commission website. NOMS allows registered political parties and prospective candidates to prepare and upload nomination forms prior to the start of the nomination lodgement period on 5 August 2024. Although nominations can still be completed using paper forms, candidates and parties are strongly encouraged to lodge their nomination online using NOMS.
Using NOMS:
- verifies the enrolment of candidates and nominators
- assists in minimising errors and ensures all compulsory sections of the forms have been completed
- allows nominations to be partially completed and saved for lodgement at a later date (but no later than the close of nominations at 12 noon, 14 August 2024)
- allows parties, administrators and groups to oversee and manage the progress of each nomination
- provides automated messaging between the NSW Electoral Commission and the candidate or party concerning the status of each nomination
- allows for the nomination to be lodged and deposit paid online (Visa or Mastercard)
- allows candidates and parties to lodge forms without having to attend an office in person.
From Monday, 5 August 2024 until 12 noon, Wednesday, 14 August 2024, candidates and parties can lodge their nominations and pay the nomination deposit online.
A recording of the webinar about the nomination process and using NOMS is available on our website. For assistance using NOMS please call our Candidate Helpdesk 1300 022 011 or email candidates@elections.nsw.gov.au.
Registered political party logins for NOMS are available now
The party administrator for each registered political party has been emailed a link requesting them to log in and create a password to their account in NOMS. Please note the link expires after 24 hours.
For assistance with reissuing an expired link please call our Candidate Helpdesk on 1300 022 011.
Registration for candidates and groups
Candidates and groups of candidates must register for the election before accepting political donations or making payments for electoral expenditure. Current councillors seeking re-election do not need to be registered before accepting political donations or making payments for electoral expenditure.
All nominated candidates and groups that did not apply to be registered will be registered by the NSW Electoral Commission on Thursday, 15 August 2024 when they are formally nominated by the returning officer, enabling all candidates and groups to accept political donations and make payments for electoral expenditure from that time.
Apply to be registered as a candidate or group using Funding and Disclosure Online. If you are not able to use the online system email fdc@elections.nsw.gov.au for a PDF/paper registration form.
Registration takes effect when confirmed by the NSW Electoral Commission, not the date you apply to register.
The details of registered candidates and groups are included in a publicly available register.
Read more about registering as a candidate or group.
Amendments to the Register of Parties
The Local Government Register of Parties is published on the website and includes the names and abbreviations of the parties registered for Local Government elections in NSW, details of their office holders, and their constitutions.
A reminder that during the election period for the 2024 NSW Local Government elections (5 August 2024 to election day, 14 September 2024) it is not possible for registered parties to change their registered details with the NSW Electoral Commission. Applications to amend the registered details of registered parties that are submitted during this time will not be processed until after the election.
More information about amending the register of parties.
Capped expenditure period commenced 1 July
There are limits on the amount that candidates, groups, political parties and third-party campaigners can spend on campaigning. The capped expenditure period for the 2024 NSW Local Government elections commenced on 1 July and will end on election day, 14 September 2024. The caps applicable to candidates and third-party campaigners vary depending on the number of electors in the relevant local government area or ward. The applicable expenditure cap for each area is published on our website.
For the purpose of the caps, electoral expenditure incurred by the candidates, their group and their party is aggregated. More information about the aggregation rules is available on our website. Even if electoral material was paid for before the capped expenditure period, for the purpose of the caps it is taken to be incurred during the period if the electoral material is published, displayed or distributed during the period.
More information:
Political donation caps for 2024/2025 financial year
Political donations include funds raised through fundraisers as well as other monetary and non-monetary gifts. Political donations are capped and the cap amounts are adjusted for inflation every financial year. Visit our website for:
- the donation caps for the 2024/25 financial year and the aggregation rules for the purpose of the donation caps
- information about political donations
- information about unlawful political donations.
Candidate and participant information
A webinar for candidates and other election participants was held on Tuesday, 9 July and covered the following topics:
- electoral funding laws
- key dates
- third-party campaigner registration and official agent responsibilities.
The webinar was recorded and is available on our website.
Our next webinar is about electoral material (including how-to-vote cards), compliance with electoral laws and voting options for electors. It will be held at 11am, 6 August 2024. Register for the webinar.
View the webinar schedule, watch recordings of past webinars and register for upcoming webinars.
Political donation awareness and resources
The NSW Electoral Commission has a range of resources to help raise awareness of the rules that apply to donors and political donations. These resources include videos and information for political donors, updated to reflect the prohibition on political donations from registered clubs involved in gambling including the members of their governing bodies.
More information about unlawful political donations and prohibited donors can be found on our website including information in other languages about political donation rules.
End of financial year disclosures due
From 1 July 2024 the following disclosures are due:
- Half-yearly disclosure of political donations made and received by political participants for the period 1 January 2024 to 30 June 2024 – due by Monday, 12 August 2024.
- Annual disclosure of electoral expenditure incurred by political participants – due by Monday, 23 September 2024.
If you did not make or receive any reportable political donations or incur expenditure, you are required to make ‘Nil’ disclosures. Disclosures can be lodged online using Funding and Disclosure Online. View more information about how to make a disclosure, including the supporting documents to submit with disclosures.
Candidate resources: Office of Local Government campaign
The NSW Government is encouraging candidates from all backgrounds to consider running for their local council in September.
As part of this, the Office of Local Government (OLG) is running a diversity campaign urging people from underrepresented groups to consider standing for their community. These groups include:
- women
- culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds
- young people
- Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people
- people with disability.
To support this campaign, OLG has a new Become a councillor webpage for prospective candidates with a range of resources, including:
- its Stand for your Community candidate guide
- an online learning tool for prospective candidates, and
- targeted candidate guides for women, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds, people with disability, and young people.
For further information, go to Local Government Elections - Office of Local Government NSW.