Election notice 2

2024 NSW Local Government elections 

The 2024 NSW Local government elections will be held on Saturday, 14 September 2024. Learn more about key dates for the elections. 

Voting options include attendance in person on and before the election day, postal voting and telephone assisted voting for electors who are blind or who have low vision. 

Nominate as a Mayor or Councillor  

You must lodge a nomination form, either by using the NSW Electoral Commission’s Nominations Online Management System or by obtaining nomination forms from our website or the Returning Officer’s office and lodging with the Returning Officer. 

You may be nominated by either a registered political party, or by two electors enrolled in the local government area or ward for which you are being nominated. For example, if you are being nominated as a candidate for a ward your nominators must be enrolled in that ward. 

Candidates must also complete a candidate information sheet and statistical information sheet. 

Grouping of Councillor candidates on the ballot paper  

Two or more Councillor candidates may request to form a group on the ballot paper, and where eligible, request a group voting square be printed on the ballot paper for the group. Requests may be made either by using the Nominations Online Management System or by obtaining forms from our website or the Returning Officer’s office and lodging with the Returning Officer. 

City of Sydney Lord Mayor 

A candidate for election as the Lord Mayor of the City of Sydney must also be a candidate for election as a Councillor of the City of Sydney. 

Nomination deposit 

All candidates must pay a nomination deposit of $125 to the NSW Electoral Commission. 

Where candidates also lodge a request to form a group, the deposit is capped at $625 for a group of five candidates or more. 

If using our Nominations Online Management System, the deposit must be paid by either MasterCard or VISA. 

If using paper nomination forms, the nomination deposit must be paid by cash or bank or building society cheque.  

Lodge your nomination 

The NSW Electoral Commission strongly encourages you to lodge your nomination online.  

If using paper nomination forms, you must lodge your nomination and deposit with the Returning Officer for the council area in which you intend to stand as a candidate. Returning Officer office locations can be found on our website. 

You are encouraged to start preparing your nomination now.  

Nomination forms, grouping forms and nomination deposits must be lodged between Monday, 5 August and 12 noon, Wednesday 14 August 2024. 

Late nominations cannot be accepted. 

Registration for electoral funding purposes 

NSW has strict laws that regulate the election campaign finances of political parties, candidates and groups at the election. These include requirements to operate a campaign account, and to record and disclose political donations and electoral expenditure. In addition, there are caps on political donations and electoral expenditure.  

Prior to being nominated, candidates and groups who wish to accept political donations or pay for electoral expenditure must first apply to the NSW Electoral Commission to be registered for electoral funding purposes. Only once registered is a candidate or group allowed to accept political donations and pay for electoral expenditure.  

Candidates and groups can apply to be registered through the NSW Electoral Commission’s new online registration and disclosure system, Funding and Disclosure Online. Forms are also available on demand at fdc@elections.nsw.gov.au or 1300 022 011.  

Applications for registration for electoral funding purposes close on Wednesday, 14 August 2024.  

From 15 August 2024, nominated candidates and groups that have not registered before being nominated are taken to be registered and will take on significant legal obligations for record-keeping and making disclosures. Even already-registered candidates and groups who decide not to nominate will have some ongoing electoral funding law obligations after the election. 

Learn more about Funding and Disclosure Online. Enquiries about being registered and the laws that apply to political donations and electoral expenditure should be sent to fdc@elections.nsw.gov.au 

Candidate information 

Information is available on our website, including educational webinars which assist candidates in navigating the election processes. 

Ballot paper draw 

The Returning Officer will formally nominate the candidates and conduct a draw to determine the order of groups (where applicable) and candidate names on the ballot paper at the office of the relevant Returning Officer at 2pm, Thursday, 15 August 2024. 

Candidates and electors are invited to observe the ballot paper draw. 

Further information 

• Visit elections.nsw.gov.au 
• Email the candidate helpdesk at candidates@elections.nsw.gov.au  
• Call the candidate helpdesk on 1300 022 011. 
• If you are deaf, hard of hearing and/or have a speech impairment, please contact us through the National Relay Service (NRS). Choose your access option and ask for 1300 135 736. 
• If you need an interpreter, please call TIS National on 131 450 and ask them to call the NSW Electoral Commission on 1300 135 736.