2024 NSW Local Government elections
Saturday, 14 September 2024
View the results in the Virtual Tally Room
Mayor distribution of preferences schedule
Councillor distribution of preferences schedule
View vote count information for the 2024 NSW Local Government elections
Returning Officer's office locations
General information
There are 128 local government councils in NSW. Each council represents a local government area. The NSW Electoral Commission will be conducting the elections for 126 councils on Saturday, 14 September 2024 for the election of Councillors. Some councils will also be holding mayoral elections, constitutional referendums and/or polls. Fairfield City Council and Liverpool City Council have chosen to use a commercial election provider.
Voting is compulsory at all NSW local government elections except for council polls.
You must vote at a venue in your enrolled council area (or ward if you live in a divided council area). You cannot vote at a venue in another area. Use the address lookup tool to find your council or ward.
More information about how local government elections work.
Read the 2024 NSW Local Government elections Service charter.
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Monday, 1 July 2024
- Start of the capped expenditure period
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Monday, 22 July 2024
- Notice and advertising of entitlement to enrol and vote
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Monday, 5 August 2024
- Start of regulated period for electoral material
- 8am: Lodgement of nominations open
- 6pm: Close of roll for the purposes of being a candidate or nominator
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Tuesday, 6 August 2024
- Lodgement of postal vote applications open
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Wednesday, 7 August 2024
- Notice and advertising of election and to nominate
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Monday, 12 August 2024
- Half-yearly donations and major political donors disclosures due
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Wednesday, 14 August 2024
- 12 noon: Close of nominations and close of registration of candidates and groups
- Registration of electoral materials open
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Thursday, 15 August 2024
- 2pm: Ballot paper draw conducted
- 2pm: Uncontested elections declared
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Monday, 19 August 2024
- Postal packs distribution begins
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Monday, 2 September 2024
- Display of registered electoral material website commences
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Friday, 6 September 2024
- 5pm: Registration of electoral material closes
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Saturday, 7 September 2024
- Pre-poll voting period opens
(Note: days and times will vary for each location and no voting Sunday, 8 September) - Telephone assisted voting applications and voting open. Eligibility for telephone assisted voting is restricted to electors who are blind or have low vision.
- Pre-poll voting period opens
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Monday, 9 September 2024
- 5pm: Postal vote applications close
- Registration of third-party campaigners closes
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Friday, 13 September 2024
- Pre-poll voting period closes
(Note: times will vary for each location) - Telephone assisted voting applications close
- Pre-poll voting period closes
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Saturday, 14 September 2024
- 8am – 6pm: Election day
- 1pm: Telephone assisted voting closes
- 6pm: Regulated period for electoral material ends
- End of capped expenditure period
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Monday, 23 September 2024
- Last day to lodge annual electoral expenditure disclosure
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Friday, 27 September 2024
- 6pm: End of postal vote returns
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Monday, 30 September 2024
- Start of progressive distribution of preferences
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Tuesday, 1 October 2024
- Start of progressive declaration of results
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Wednesday, 2 October 2024
- End of progressive distribution of preferences
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Thursday, 3 October 2024
- End of progressive declaration of results
The 2024 NSW Local Government elections were held on Saturday, 14 September 2024.
We have a number of election-related processes to carry out following the close of voting at 6pm on election day, including the counting of votes. We are looking for people to work, including people who have never worked at an election before. Expressions of interest are open.
View more information about the positions available and rates of pay for the 2024 NSW Local Government elections.
For voters
If it appears you didn't vote in the 2024 NSW Local Government elections, we will send you an apparent failure to vote notice in the post. If you receive a notice, you have the opportunity to tell us why you didn’t vote. The NSW Electoral Commissioner will determine what reasons are sufficient for an elector failing to vote.
The penalty for not voting in New South Wales is a $55 fine. You must respond within 28 days of the issue date of the notice.
Postal vote applications closed at 6pm on Friday, 27 September 2024.
Timeline:
Monday, 19 August 2024: Postal vote pack distribution commences.
Monday, 9 September 2024: Postal vote applications close at 5pm.
Saturday, 14 September 2024: Vote and complete your postal vote certificate by 6pm.
Friday, 27 September 2024: Completed postal votes must be received by the NSW Electoral Commission by 6pm.
General postal voters automatically receive ballot papers in the mail.
Important: The NSW Electoral Commission is not conducting the election for the council you have chosen.
Please contact the council for further information.
OR
Download a spreadsheet of the finalised candidates (XLS 0.3MB)
View our frequently asked questions page for answers about elections, enrolment, voting options and assistance for voters.
For candidates and councils
Learn about becoming a candidate for the 2024 NSW Local Government elections. Please read all details under each topic to see what is applicable to you and the relevant deadlines under each topic.
The table below provides cumulative totals daily (reporting the previous day). View postal and pre-poll numbers by area/ward.
Postal vote applications: All applications for a postal vote received. This includes general postal voters and uncontested areas.
Postal votes scrutinised: Number of postal vote certificates returned and scrutinised.
Pre-poll figure: Number of electors who have cast a vote during the early voting period.
Number of electors: 5,630,319 (as at 8 August 2024)
Metric | Total | Percentage of total electors |
---|---|---|
Postal vote applications | 438,864 | 7.79% |
Postal votes scrutinised | 381,204 | 6.77% |
Pre-poll figure | 1,500,098 | 26.64% |
The information is true as at time of reporting. Table data last updated: 11:20am Monday, 30 September 2024.
Election bulletins for political participants
Bulletin No.1 | 10 May 2024
- Featured: Election date; Candidate information webinars; Candidate, group and third-party campaigners must register to start campaigning; Compliance with electoral funding laws; Disclosure obligations; Campaign accounts; Information and support; Administration of the 2024 elections in Fairfield and Liverpool.
Bulletin No.2 | 25 June 2024
- Featured: Election calendar; Candidate and participant information; Candidate and participant helpdesk; Registration for candidates and groups; Nomination as a candidate; Upcoming actions requested of registered parties; Postal vote applications; Registration of third-party campaigners; Amendments to registered details of candidates, groups or third-party campaigners; Determining who is responsible for compliance with electoral funding laws; Funding and disclosure online; Administration of the 2024 elections in Fairfield and Liverpool.
Bulletin No.3 | 15 July 2024
- Featured: Nomination online management system now live; Registered political party logins for NOMS are available now; Registration for candidates and groups; Amendments to the Register of Parties; Capped expenditure period commenced 1 July; Political donation caps for 2024/2025 financial year; Candidate and participant information; Political donation awareness and resources; End of financial year disclosures due; Candidate resources: Office of Local Government campaign.
Bulletin No.4 | 24 July 2024
- Featured: Candidate handbook; Candidate and participant webinars; Nomination Online Management System (NOMS) is now available; Reminder – important information on website about donation and expenditure rules; Registration of candidates, groups and third-party campaigners; Accepting and using political donations; Reminder regarding campaign accounts; Electoral funding disclosure obligations as a current Councillor or Mayor.
Bulletin No.5 | 1 August 2024
- Featured: Upcoming key dates; Candidate eligibility; Close of rolls; Lodgement of nominations; Lodging your nomination online; Lodging your nomination in person; Witnessing the statutory declaration in the candidate information sheet; Close of registration for candidates and groups; Postal voting; Braille ballot papers; Polling place locations and projections; Electoral material authorisation requirements; Compliance operations during the regulated election period; Party registration freeze; Disclosures: reminder due date for political donation disclosures is 12 August 2024; Disclosures: reminder due date for major political donors is 12 August 2024; Regulatory priorities; Security and privacy of enrolment information; Candidate helpdesk changes to operational hours.
Bulletin No.6 | 12 August 2024
- Featured: Nominations close at 12 noon Wednesday; Successfully completing a nomination online; Reminder: close of registrations for candidates and groups 12 noon Wednesday, 14 August; Candidate details published on website; Ballot paper draw; Local Government election regulations amended; Campaign accounts; Registration of electoral material for distributing on election day; Re-use of election material; Community education resources webpage now available; Applications for postal voting are open; Postal vote applications returned to political participants.
Bulletin No.7 | 15 August 2024
- Featured: Nominations and registrations are now closed; Ballot paper draw to occur today; Candidate information on website; Electoral expenditure is capped from 1 July 2024 to election day; Public registers; Political donation caps for 2024/2025 financial year; Accepting and using political donations; ICAC warns against using allegations of corruption as part of campaigns.
Bulletin No.8 | 16 August 2024
- Featured: Ballot paper draws completed; Ballot paper templates; Candidate information webinars; Register your electoral; Postal vote applications returned to political participants.
Bulletin No.9 | 27 August 2024
- Featured: Registration of electoral material reminder; Display of electoral material; Elector number projections; Election statistics; Daily metrics during pre-poll period; Voting at declared institutions; Candidate information webinars; Scrutineers; Postal vote scrutiny; Enforcement of electoral laws; Integrity hub and Disinformation register.
Bulletin No.10 | 2 September 2024
- Featured: Close of registration of electoral material; Display of posters; Electoral material enquiries or complaints; Regulatory priorities and the Disinformation register; Candidate and party workers; Close of registration for third-party campaigners; Reminder: Counting and results candidate information webinar.
Bulletin No.11 | 12 September 2024
- Featured: Election day; Helpdesks on election day; Candidate workers on election day; Reporting allegations about electoral material on election day; Scrutineering; Counting and results; Counting videos; Candidate information webinars.
Bulletin No.12 | 26 September 2024
- Featured: Election results; Distribution of preferences; Declaration of results; Recount requests; Candidate information webinars.
Bulletin No.13 | 11 October 2024
- Featured: Closing local government election campaign accounts; Disclosure obligations after the elections; Reminder to update nomination deposit return details; We value your feedback.
Election notice 1: Advertising of enrolments | 22 July 2024
Election notice 2: Notice of election and call for nomination proposals | 9 August 2024
Election notice 3: Declaration of uncontested elections | 16 August 2024
Election notice 4: Notice of contested elections | 16 August 2024
Election reminders
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