Registration

Candidates and groups of candidates for a state election must be registered for the election with the NSW Electoral Commission for the purpose of lawfully accepting political donations and incurring electoral expenditure.

This registration process is separate to the process for a person being nominated as a candidate for the election to have their name included on the ballot paper.

When you become a candidate it is your responsibility to understand the requirements for political donations and electoral expenditure. Some candidates may be responsible for their own election campaign finances, while in other cases, the party agent of a registered political party is responsible for the election campaign finances of candidates and groups who are members of the party.

More information about the rules for determining who is responsible for the management and disclosure of political donations and electoral expenditure can be found in the Political donations section.

Registration as a candidate by the NSW Electoral Commission does not mean that a person is eligible to be nominated as a candidate for an election. Registration as a candidate or group is for the purpose of regulating the candidate or group in relation to accepting political donations or making payments for electoral expenditure.

Being nominated as a candidate is a separate process, to have your name included on the ballot paper. Nomination can only happen after the writs are issued. The nomination process is described in the sections Nomination as a candidate - general information, Nomination as a candidate - Legislative Assembly and Nomination as a candidate - Legislative Council.