Nominations open for local council elections
Nominations are now open for candidates who plan to contest the NSW Local Government elections and will close at 12 noon on Wednesday, November 3 2021.
NSW Electoral Commissioner John Schmidt said many candidates had already started their nominations online. “This is the first time nominations can be made entirely online for Local Government elections via the Commission’s Nominations Online Management System (NOMS).
“2,295 prospective candidates have already started their nomination and I encourage anyone planning to nominate to get started on their application today,” he said.
“Support is available every step of the way through resources and FAQs on our website or by calling our candidate helpdesk.”
Candidates may be nominated by either a registered political party or two electors. The Nominations Online Management System can be accessed from elections.nsw.gov.au. Hard copy forms are available by emailing or calling the candidate helpdesk on 1300 022 011.
Nominations are the process through which candidates can have their name included on ballot papers. Late nominations cannot be accepted.
Information about nominations is available in the NSW Electoral Commission Candidate Handbook.
The registration of a candidate or group is a separate process to the candidate or group being nominated for the election to have their name printed on the ballot paper.
Candidates and groups can only accept political donations or make payments for electoral expenditure before 4 November 2021 if they have already registered (not just lodged their nomination) with the Electoral Commission.
Apply to be registered as a candidate or group using Funding and Disclosure Online or download, complete and submit a registration form directly to the NSW Electoral Commission.
Ballot paper draw Ballot paper draws will be held from 10am Thursday 4 November 2021.
Ballot paper draws will be held to determine the position of candidates on the ballot paper.
These will take place at the office of Returning Officers for each LGA. Accepted candidate nominations will appear progressively on the Commission’s website during the nominations period.
Following the ballot paper draw, candidate details will be published in ballot paper order at elections.nsw.gov.au.