Enquiries and allegations about electoral material
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Assistance
If you have questions about the preparation and registration of electoral material, e.g. before voting starts, please raise those queries using the Contact us form on our website, by emailing us at candidates@elections.nsw.gov.au or calling 1300 022 011.
Reports alleging unlawful electoral material
To allege that electoral material used or published during the regulated election period is or was unlawful, a report should be made in writing by emailing us at candidates@elections.nsw.gov.au.
An allegation should include a copy of the electoral material. For electoral material published on the internet, a URL link or the name of a social media account and a screenshot should be provided.
The NSW Electoral Commission regulates elections in accordance with the law and in a transparent, fair and impartial way. While your report will be acknowledged, there are strict limitations on disclosure of information relating to our investigation functions.
We may be authorised or required by law, however, to disclose personal information that you report to us. For example, the NSW Electoral Commission may be satisfied under the Electoral Act that it is in the public interest in a particular case to disclose information (including identifying information) publicly about a matter under investigation, including to any person who may have reported the breach or to the general public, for instance, regarding any investigation or other action that has been taken.
The NSW Electoral Commission will consider its compliance and enforcement policies when reviewing reported allegations about electoral material. Relevant principles include:
- proportionality: any action decided upon by the NSW Electoral Commission will be proportionate to the seriousness of potential breaches of the law and the surrounding circumstances
- prioritisation: reported allegations are prioritised according to a number of considerations, including but not limited to legislative timeframes and the known or foreseeable impact of potential breaches of the law and
- use of resources: decisions are made about allegations, including potential investigation and enforcement action, in a way that uses the resources of the NSW Electoral Commission appropriately.