As we head into the 2024 NSW Local Government Election Day, the state has seen record numbers of early voters, with over 1.3 million people handing in their ballot papers. Around 1,113,740 people voted early and 213,012 postal votes have been returned and scrutinised, in the lead-up to election day on Saturday, said NSW Electoral Commission.
Acting NSW Electoral Commissioner Dr Mathew Phillips urged eligible voters to cast their vote on Saturday. “Voting at NSW local council elections is compulsory. You have until 6 pm on Saturday, September 14 to cast your vote or penalties may apply”, Phillips said.
“Voters who wish to cast their votes in person must do so within their local council area and ward. Voters can find their nearest pre-poll or polling place, opening hours, and candidates using the address lookup tool at elections.nsw.gov.au,” Phillips added.
There are around 5,630,319 electors (as of August 2024), who are eligible to vote at the NSW local council elections this year. They will decide the fate of over 3889 candidates who are on the ballot for the 2024 elections to elect councillors for around 128 local government councils in NSW.
On election day about 2,100 polling places will remain open across NSW from 8 am to 6 pm. The details of the nearest polling place can be found through the address lookup tool which will provide you with information about the polling places nearest to you.
Phillips highlights that multilingual election officials will be on-site at multiple polling places across NSW to ensure that everyone can successfully vote. “They will be wearing badges to indicate the language they speak or voters can call TIS National on 131 450 and ask them to call us on 1300 135 736”, said Phillips.
Additionally, Auslan interpreters will also be available on election day by contacting the Electoral Commission through Skype on NSWelections Auslan or NSWelections Auslan 2 for further assistance.
With postal vote applications now closed, voters needed to complete their postal votes by 6 pm on election day and it must be received by the NSW Electoral Commission no later than 6 pm on Friday, September 27, for their vote to be counted.
In Sydney and its inner suburbs, the election campaign has been marked by significant issues – local, national, and international. Candidates are campaigning on local concerns including housing affordability, public transport enhancements, local services, infrastructure, and the care for our environment. The war in Gaza has also made its appearance, with candidates’ views on the issue called into question in the progressive inner suburbs.
Clover Moore – the longest-serving, and the first woman elected Lord Mayor in the City of Sydney’s history in 2004 – is also one of the candidates at the elections. Moore is looking for a sixth consecutive term as Lord Mayor of Sydney.
Click here for more information on how to vote and how to fill your ballot papers for the NSW local council elections on Saturday, September 14, 2024.
A third of eligible voters had cast their votes ahead of time as more than five million people made their choice across 128 councils.
“Our staff will have a very long day today after starting early, and are about to start a long night of counting,” acting NSW Electoral Commissioner Matthew Phillips said.
Hours before the last ballot was cast, Sydney's Lord Mayor Clover Moore apologised after a rival's campaign signage was removed and replaced with her own.
Independent candidate Yvonne Weldon took to social media on Saturday to allege one of Ms Moore's volunteers had taken her corflutes away in Redfern and replaced them with signage in support of Australia's longest-serving lord mayor.
Ms Moore, who is fighting to retain the keys to Sydney Town Hall after 20 years in the role, apologised for the incident.
“I'm sorry this occurred,” Ms Moore said in a statement.
“This absolutely should not have happened.
“I'm told the volunteer was instructed to rectify and replace immediately.”
Ms Weldon said the incident was disappointing, unacceptable and “emblematic of why we need change”.
The 78-year-old Ms Moore is among the 37 mayors up for election and political analyst Ben Raue cautioned against putting too much stock in recent reports she might not retain her job.
“If you look at Clover's vote, it's tended to bounce up and down,” the founder of the Tally Room election website told AAP.
“It's hard to see who would be the one to beat her.”
Several councils are facing an unavoidable shift to the left after the Liberals' headline-grabbing blunder in which 140-odd endorsed candidates were not nominated.
Local Government Minister Ron Hoenig urged residents to get up to speed with candidates so they could make an informed decision, with councils spending more than $22 billion a year on services and infrastructure.
Elsewhere, 140,000 voters in Sydney's fast-growing southwest had the chance to weigh in on the well-publicised fight between Liverpool's Liberal mayor and the Labor state government.
Labor had attempted to address alleged serious maladministration and dysfunction in the council and defer elections, only to run out of time due to the mayor's legal challenges.
The absence of the Liberals will also likely result in Penrith, Camden, Northern Beaches and Blue Mountains councils shifting left, although the Liberals could win seats in Parramatta.
The first council poll since the national housing crisis took hold was also a test as to whether affordable dwelling policies could succeed at the local level.
More than 50 candidates - including Ms Moore - have taken a pledge with pro-development group Sydney YIMBY.
David Borger, who chairs a pro-development alliance that includes Sydney YIMBY, said it was outrageous so many were lining up to block new homes “in the middle of the worst housing crisis we've ever seen”.
Not every area is being forced to the ballot box, with rural residents in Cowra, Junee and Berrigan enjoying an election-free Saturday after the number of nominations matched or fell short of available seats.
