2024 NSW Local Government elections: Political participants bulletin No.9
Bulletin No.9
Issued 27 August 2024
On this page
Registration of electoral material reminder
Registration of electoral material closes 5pm on Friday, 6 September 2024. Late applications cannot be accepted.
Electoral material, including how-to-vote cards handed out on election day must be registered.
Register your electoral material online or download the form LG.212 Application to register electoral material.
Ballot paper templates and information about the requirements for registration of electoral material are available on the NSW Electoral Commission website to assist preparation of your material.
Display of electoral material
Registered electoral material is displayed on the NSW Electoral Commission website until 6pm election day Saturday, 14 September. Electoral material is progressively published on our website as it is registered.
Elector number projections
The NSW Electoral Commission has published pre-poll and polling place elector projections for the 2024 Local Government elections. These will be available under the heading 'Venue projections' on our website.
Should you require further information please email candidates@elections.nsw.gov.au or phone the Candidate helpdesk 1300 022 011.
Election statistics
The following statistics are provided following the close of nominations:
- Number of nominations lodged: 3,997
- Number of nominations accepted: 3,888
- Number of nominations rejected or withdrawn: 109
- Number of uncontested elections: 1 mayor, 5 areas, 16 wards
- Number of identified male candidates: 2,232
- Number of identified female candidates: 1,667
Please note the disclosure of gender by candidates was optional.
Daily metrics during pre-poll period
The NSW Electoral Commission will publish pre-poll voting period cumulative totals daily on our website. Details published will include:
- the cumulative totals of the number of electors who cast a vote during the early voting period
- the total number of postal vote applications received
- the total number of postal votes certificates returned.
Voting at declared institutions
The Electoral Commissioner declares that certain hospitals, nursing homes, retirement villages and similar facilities are declared institutions, for the purpose of election officials attending those places to facilitate voting in person for the residents.
Details of the facilities can be obtained from the Returning Officer in each district, who will advise the days and times of visits so that candidates may appoint a scrutineer to be present when voting takes place. No electoral material can be distributed by scrutineers at any time during this visit.
Declared institutions that have not requested election officials to visit have been provided postal vote application forms and instructions.
Only residents enrolled within the area or ward in which the facility is located will be able to vote during a visit. It will be necessary for residents who are enrolled in a different area or ward to access another voting option, such as postal voting. Staff and the families and carers of people who are residing in these facilities who want information about the voting arrangements should check with the facility’s management.
Candidate information webinars
The next webinar will be held on Tuesday, 10 September at 11am and will cover the following topics:
- scrutineers
- counting and results timeline
- distribution of preferences.
Scrutineers
Scrutineers are appointed by candidates to observe election processes, to see that rules are followed fairly and impartially.
A scrutineer may only be appointed by a candidate.
Appointment of scrutineers
A scrutineer must be appointed in writing using the LG.213 Appointment of scrutineer form. Scrutineers must present a completed appointment form each day and at each location they attend.
For information about the role of a scrutineer during scrutiny and counting, candidate and scrutineers should refer to the LG.233B Scrutineer guidelines – scrutiny and counting published on the NSW Electoral Commission website.
Scrutineer Policy
The LG.215 Scrutineer Policy is also available on our website. The policy describes the role of scrutineers in NSW Local Government elections and how scrutineers can comply with the law during the election, including during the counting of votes. The policy also aims to make it easier for scrutineers to examine paper ballots, electronic records and data entry records, as well as providing information on the audit process for electronic counting.
Scrutineers may observe processes at any place where voting occurs, where declaration votes are scrutinised, or where ballot papers are counted, including at:
- all voting centres and early voting centres
- all returning officers’ offices
- the centralised count centres and the Telephone Assisted Voting (TAV) centre.
Please contact the candidate helpdesk on 1300 022 011 to arrange access for scrutineers to the centralised count centres and TAV centre.
Postal vote scrutiny
Preliminary scrutiny of returned postal votes will occur from Monday, 2 September until Friday, 27 September at the Centralised Postal Voting Count Centre (CPVCC). Scrutiny includes the inspection of all returned postal vote certificates to confirm that they have been completed in line with legislation.
Scrutiny, extraction and counting of postal votes will be conducted at the CPVCC. Scrutineers can observe all scrutiny and counting processes.
Extraction of scrutinised postal votes will commence from Tuesday, 3 September. During the extraction process, ballot papers are extracted from the outer envelope, but the ballot papers are not inspected. Extracted ballot papers will be securely stored in ballot boxes that will not be opened or counted prior to 6pm on election night.
The CPVCC is located at the Falkiner Pavilion, Sydney Olympic Park, NSW.
Enforcement of electoral laws
The NSW Electoral Commission is responsible for enforcing NSW electoral laws, which include offences relating to campaign conduct, electoral funding, electoral material, voting and false statements in official forms. In response to alleged contraventions, the Electoral Commission may investigate and issue warnings, cautions and penalty notices for certain offences, as well as prosecute a person in court and/or recover amounts of any unlawful donations accepted. Members of the public may report a possible contravention of an electoral law to the NSW Electoral Commission, which:
- should be made in writing; and
- should include as much relevant and detailed information as possible, including any available evidence.
More information about reporting a breach of electoral laws.
Integrity hub and Disinformation register
Our Integrity hub provides a centralised location for information about the NSW Electoral Commission’s role as the independent regulator of elections and political participants in New South Wales. It includes information focused on the transparency of electoral processes, disclosures, and the investigation of breaches of lobbying and electoral laws.
The hub provides guidance and support to political participants through educational resources and our regulatory priorities. View the Integrity hub.
The Integrity hub includes the Disinformation register. False information about election processes circulating in the community, including through different forms of media, can undermine confidence in the integrity of democratic processes and have broader consequences for society. To mitigate this risk, the NSW Electoral Commission undertakes ongoing monitoring of media and social media during election periods. The Disinformation register tracks and rebuts prominent false and misleading statements about electoral processes in our state. It also notes any action taken by the NSW Electoral Commission in response to the disinformation. View the Disinformation register.