The next Local Government elections will be held between 8am – 6pm on Saturday 14 September 2024

NSW Local Government Elections 14 September 2024

Key Dates

Please click here to view key dates for the upcoming election.

Further information (including key dates) for candidates and groups can be viewed here.

Information on who the candidates are for Strathfield Council are available online here once nominations close.

People who do not live in the Strathfield area but pay rates on a property in the area are entitled to register to be included on the Non-Residential Roll to vote at the upcoming local government election.

Any person who has previously been entered onto or applied to be entered onto Council’s Non-Residential Roll must reapply to be considered for entry into the Strathfield Non-Residential Roll.

Application forms for inclusion on the Non-Residential Roll must be received by the CEO of Strathfield Council by 6.00pm (EST) Monday 5 August 2024.

The deadline to submit applications to be on the Non-Residential Roll has now passed. Under Section 302 of the Local Government Act 1993, a copy of the Non-Residential Roll and of the Roll of Occupiers and Ratepaying Lessees can be made available for inspection. Please contact Council’s Governance Team by emailing governance@strathfield.nsw.gov.au.

In order to qualify for enrolment on the non-residential roll as a non-resident owner, a person must be an owner or nominated by the owner or owners of rateable land in the area. Rateable land means land that is rateable to an ordinary rate or a special rate, or both.

For further information regarding applying for inclusion on the Non-Residential Roll, please refer to the Electoral Commission website.

For more information on the Elections in general, please visit Local Government Elections in New South Wales – NSW Electoral Commission.

You may be eligible to vote using a postal vote. Check the eligibility criteria for postal voting.

Postal vote applications are now open. To apply for a postal vote you can either apply online or download and return a Postal vote application.

Apply online for postal vote  – updated closer to the date.

Alternatively call the NSW Electoral Commission – 1300 135 736

Timeline for postal voting:

6 August                      Lodgement of postal vote applications open
19 August                   Mailing of postal voting packs commences.
9 September               Postal vote applications close at 5pm.
Applications received after this time will not receive a postal vote pack.
27 September             Completed postal votes returned by 6pm.

Telephone assisted voting

Telephone assisted voting will be available to people who are blind or have low vision for the 2024 NSW Local Government elections.

More information on telephone voting will be available closer to the 2024 NSW Local Government elections here .

In person

Early voting or pre-poll is available from 7 September to 13 September 2024. Any person enrolled to vote may vote by pre-poll.

You will only be able to vote in person in your council area.

Pre-polling locations are available in the below tab for Where can I vote?

Information on where to vote and other important locations are available online from Strathfield Council – NSW Electoral Commission – NSW Electoral Commission – updated closer to the date.

Voting is compulsory for Strathfield Council residents.

If you do not vote and you don’t have a valid reason, you will be fined $55 by the NSW Electoral Commission. Apparent failure to vote notices are distributed within three months of an election event. You must respond within 28 days of the issue date of the notice.

Council does not issue the fines and more information about penalties for not voting is available at NSW Electoral Commission

People who would like to work at the September local government elections can now submit an application through Electoral Commission’s expression of interest website.

LGE24 expression of interest website

Applicants can work on the day (Saturday 14 September) in a polling place, or for longer periods in a returning office or in one of our pre-poll voting centres.

For additional information see Work at an election on the NSW Electoral Commission website

Who can be a Councillor

The Office of Local Government provides information for people interested in becoming a councillor.

Consider being a councillor if you want to make a difference in your local community. Local councils are in close contact with their communities and work with them to be connected, strong and resilient.

As a councillor you would work with community to represent their needs and aspirations and make important decisions on the future of the local area.

We welcome people from all walks of life to consider being a councillor and we will work with you to provide training and support to help you fulfill your duties. Councils should reflect the diverse communities of their council area.

If you would like further information about becoming a councillor, talk to an existing councillor in your local area or contact the Office of Local Government by email olg@olg.nsw.gov.au or phone 02 4428 4100.

What is the election process for candidates? 

Candidates should follow the six-step process below to successfully navigate the election process.

Step 1: Familiarise yourself with the election processes and your legal obligations.

Step 2: Register as a candidate.

Step 3: Manage your campaign finances throughout the entire election period.

Step 4: Nominate as a candidate.

Step 5: Register electoral material (how to votes) to distribute on election day.

Step 6: Disclose political donations and electoral expenditure to the NSW Electoral Commission.

Register for upcoming NSW Electoral Commission webinars or view past session recordings here

What is my Commitment?

As Councillor civic duty requires you to attend:

• Council Meetings – minimum 10 per year or more
• Councillor Workshops – minimum various but at 10 or more
• Attend formal events and functions
• Be the representative for your community in progressing matters to Council

The NSW Electoral Commission has further information on becoming a candidate for the 2024 Local Government elections

The Office of Local Government has a dedicated page on Becoming a Councillor. It contains a Candidate Tool and a Stand for your community – Candidate Guide. There are also Guides available tailored to prospective candidates who are women, Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander people, people from culturally and linguistically diverse communities, people with disabilities and young people.

Local government elections are held in NSW on the second Saturday in September every four years. At local government elections voters in each local government area elect councillors to their local council.

For the 2024 election, Strathfield Council has engaged the NSW Electoral Commissioner conduct their elections.

The Strathfield local government area is undivided, where the councillors are elected by all voters in that area not divided into wards.

Councillors are elected for a four year term, and Strathfield has seven councillors elected.

It is compulsory to vote in an election or by-election if you are eligible to do so. You can sign up for SMS and email election reminders online

More information on how local government elections work can be found on the NSW Electoral Commission website here.

For further information on the upcoming election, please refer to the links below from the NSW Electoral Commission and Office of Local Government: –

• 2024 NSW Local Government elections – NSW Electoral Commission
• Information for Voters – NSW Electoral Commission
• Information for Candidates and Groups
• Disclosures and Political Donations
• Office of Local Government NSW
• Become a Councillor – Office of Local Government NSW
• Information for Candidates – Office of Local Government NSW
• Stand for your community – All you need to know about becoming a councillor (nsw.gov.au)
• NSW Electoral Commission – Six Steps to being a Candidate