Enrolment to vote in NSW elections
Enrolment to vote in New South Wales elections is jointly managed by the NSW Electoral Commission and the Australian Electoral Commission. Enrolment information about NSW electors is used to produce residential rolls for use at both state and local government elections.
Local government elections use two types of electoral rolls:
- a residential roll
- a non-residential roll
Inclusion on a non-residential roll of electors is available to electors in a local government area who pay rates to the council on property they own but do not occupy, as well as people who occupy or lease property. Under the Local Government Act 1993, the council’s general manager is responsible for compiling and maintaining the non-residential roll of electors. The non-residential roll lapses after each election.
Inspection of a roll produced for a particular election can only be granted for electoral purposes (such as for objecting to person’s enrolment and therefore their entitlement to vote in that election).
To apply to inspect an electoral roll for an election, you must complete an application form and provide photo identification. We also recommend you read our Disclosure of enrolment, electoral and election information policy before you complete your application form. Rolls for an election are only available for inspection for a short period of time following the election.
We are required to provide enrolment information in certain circumstances, and subject to undertakings about security, to members of the NSW Parliament, nominated electoral candidates, registered political parties and prescribed authorities. The Electoral Commissioner may also grant access to enrolment information for purposes such as research by academic institutions, where the public interest in doing so outweighs the public interest in protecting the privacy of the personal details of electors.