Paying for elections

The NSW Parliament, through the Appropriation Bills introduced by the Executive Government for the annual State budget, authorises funding for the NSW Electoral Commission to meet the costs of state general elections and by-elections.

For recent local government elections (including countback elections), the State budget has also funded the NSW Electoral Commission’s core costs, which included critical head office staff, training and IT systems costs associated with the delivery of these elections. Councils continue to pay for the direct costs of their elections, which include polling place staff, venues and ballot paper printing.

All other elections conducted by the NSW Electoral Commission occur on a cost recovery basis.

The cost of an election depends on the type and circumstances of the election. State and local government general election costs are published in the relevant election report. 

Read our election reports.