Election 2021
Important dates
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| 25 October 2021 | Close of electoral rolls (6pm) Candidate nomination open |
| 3 November 2021 | Close of candidate nominations (12pm) Registration of electoral materials commences |
| 5 November 2021 | Caretaker period commences |
| 22 November 2021 | Pre-poll voting opens |
| 26 November 2021 | Registration of electoral material closes (5pm) |
| 27 November 2021 | Declared institution voting commences |
| 29 November 2021 | Postal vote applications close (5pm) |
| 3 December 2021 | Declared institution voting closes (6pm) Pre-poll voting closes (6pm) |
| 4 December 2021 | Election day (8am-6pm) |
| 17 December 2021 | Return of postal votes closes (6pm) |
| 21-23 December 2021 | Results declared progressively as counts are finalised by election manager |
Electoral Commission COVID-19 Updates
Working at Local Government Elections
Stand for Your Community – Diversity Counts campaign launched
People from all walks of life are encouraged to stand for their community and run for election to their local council as part of a new campaign to increase diversity in local government.
The NSW Government’s Stand for Your Community – Diversity Counts campaign aims to increase the number of candidates from under-represented groups at the September 4 council elections.
The social media campaign is targeting women, younger people, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander residents, and members of culturally-diverse communities. It is paramount that our Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities have a seat at the decision-making table in the level of government closest to the community.
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Increasing Indigenous representation in local government would ensure Aboriginal culture, heritage and beliefs are taken into account when councils make important decisions for their local communities.
The Government is also determined to close the gender gap in local government. Less than a third of the state’s 1,300 councils are women and that’s why we must do all we can to increase female representation at a council level.
It is also essential that local councils reflect our culturally diverse communities which bring many benefits to the State.
People from around 225 birthplaces have made NSW their home and they practice 146 religions and speak more than 215 languages. It’s important that this rich cultural heritage and the views of our culturally-diverse communities are heard in the local government decision-making process and that councils continue to play a key role in social cohesion and harmony.
The Stand for Your Community – Diversity Counts social media campaign will run for four weeks on Facebook, LinkedIn and Instagram and include inspiring videos of current councillors from underrepresented groups sharing their positive experiences. Councillors Rachelle Harika (City of Canterbury Bankstown), Reena Jethi (The Hills Shire Council), Ben Mitchell (Maitland City Council) and Alfie Walker (Goulburn Mulwaree Council) feature in the campaign as ambassadors from their respective demographic groups.
The videos will be widely promoted on websites and social media channels of the NSW Government, local councils, peak bodies, and other key stakeholders.
A range of materials including key information and resources, digital collateral, posters, and flyers will also form part of the campaign.The Office of Local Government has also launched a comprehensive online training tool and guides for candidates to provide them with detailed information about running for election and the role and responsibilities of a councillor.
More information about the Stand for Your Community – Diversity Counts campaign including videos, promotional materials and other key information and resources can be found on the Office of Local Government website here
Voting Eligibility
Candidate Handbook
This handbook explains relevant electoral processes and procedures, however it is not a substitute for the laws which govern the conduct of an election and the participants in an election. While this handbook provides information, it does not provide legal advice. If political parties, groups, candidates or scrutineers are in doubt about any legal matters regarding the election, they should seek independent legal advice.
The information in this handbook is based on legislation at the date of publication. If the legislation changes, an updated version of this handbook will be made available from elections.nsw.gov.au.
Prospective candidates should regularly check the website for any changes to the handbook. All of the legislation is available from the NSW Legislation website legislation.nsw.gov.au.
Candidate Handbook
Explains electoral processes and procedures
Non-residential rolls
What is a non-residential roll?
There are two non-residential rolls:
• the roll of non-resident owners of rateable land, and
• the roll of occupiers and rate-paying lessees.
These two rolls are combined with the residential roll to form the roll of electors for a council area, which is used during an election. The residential roll is the list of people who live in the council area and are eligible to vote in elections
Why do non-residential rolls exist?
The non-residential rolls provide people who are nonresident owners, occupiers and rate-paying lessees of rateable land within the council area an opportunity to have a say in who is elected to council.
Who manages the non-residential rolls?
It is the responsibility of the general manager of the council to maintain the roll of non-resident owners of rateable land and the roll of occupiers and rate-paying lessees.
After each election, the non-residential rolls lapse. Then as soon as is practicable, the general manager prepares new rolls for the next election and keeps them updated. If you applied to be on a roll previously and are still qualified to be
on that roll, you should be included on the new roll.
Is it compulsory to be on a non-residential roll if I am eligible to be?
No.
Can I enrol and vote more than once in the same council area?
- No. If you are a resident of a council area then you are not permitted to also enrol as a non-resident in that area.
- Non-residents who own, occupy, or pay rates on multiple parcels of land in the same area may only be enrolled once for that area. This also applies to corporations, trustees and joint/several owners, occupiers and rate paying lessees of multiple parcels of land – they may nominate only one person to be enrolled on each non-residential roll, if eligible.
Who is eligible to be on a non-residential roll?
You must be eligible to vote at Federal or State elections to be on a non-residential roll. Your eligibility must be based on land within the council area and must not only be used as a car park.
To be on the roll of non-resident owners of rateable land, you must be:
- the sole owner of the rateable land, or
- nominated as the elector by the joint or several owners of the rateable land, or
- nominated as the elector by the corporation or trustees who own the rateable land, or
- the lessee of the land from the Crown and the land is rateable Crown land.
To be on the roll of occupiers and rate-paying lessees, you must be:
- the sole occupier or ratepaying lessee of rateable land, or
- nominated as the elector by the joint or several occupiers or ratepaying lessees of the rateable land, or
- nominated as the elector by the corporation or trustees who occupy or are the ratepaying lessee of the rateable land,
and have the legal right to occupy the land, or be responsible for paying all or part of the rates on the land for 3 years following the date you apply to be on the roll.
Use the Form for individual owners, occupiers and ratepaying lessees or Form for nomination of an elector by joint/several, corporate or trustee owners, occupiers or ratepaying lessees to apply to be on a non-residential roll. The general manager of the council will advise you within 7 days if your enrolment was accepted.
How can I check what roll I am on?
You can check your residential enrolment at check.aec.gov.au or by calling the AEC on 13 23 26.
Contact your local council to check whether you are enrolled on a non-residential roll.
Please note:
Forms must be received by the General Manager of Lithgow City Council by 6:00pm (EST) Monday 26 July 2021.