Local government elections will be held throughout NSW on Saturday 8 September 2012. You can find information on running for election to Council on the Electoral Commission website.
For a quick reference guide on how to become a Councillor please refer to Becoming a Councillor (pdf 1.4 Mb).
A person is entitled to vote at a council election if they are:
- at least eighteen years and an Australian citizen
- a resident of the council's area or a non-resident owner of rateable land or an occupier or ratepaying lessee of rateable land in the council's area.
Each person has only one vote for any council, and voting is compulsory for residents (but not for people on the non-residential roll). If you are unable to vote on election day due to disability, illness or travel you can apply for a postal vote or a pre-poll vote. There is no absentee voting in council elections.
Non-residential Roll
People who do not live in the Randwick area but pay rates on a property in this area are entitled to register to be included on the Non-residential roll, and to vote at the election. Click on the link below to download an application form. These rolls lapse after each election, so even if you have registered for a previous election you will need to register again.
Non-Residential Roll Claim Form (pdf 37 kb)
Claims for enrolment as an owner, ratepaying lessee or occupier of rateable land in Randwick City Council must be received by the General Manager at the Randwick City Council office on or before 6.00 pm (EST) Monday, 30 July 2012. They must be lodged by one of the following:
- by post to 30 Frances Street, Randwick NSW 2031
- by hand at our Customer Service Centre, 30 Frances Street, Randwick
- by fax to (02) 9319 1510
List of Polling Places
Streets by Ward Listing
If an electoral roll is not available you can download the Streets by Ward Listing (pdf 273 kb) to identify if an elector's enrolled address is within the Council boundary.
Political donations
Candidates for the September 2012 Local Government Elections should familiarise themselves with recent changes to the Election Funding, Expenditure and Disclosures Act 1981. To assist the Election Funding Authority will be publishing revised guidebooks and information on its website.
The changes include the following:
- Only individuals who are enrolled for Federal, State or Local Government elections can make political donations.
- Political parties, candidates, groups of candidates, elected members and third party campaigners are prohibited from accepting political donations from a corporation or other entity.
- Individuals are prohibited from making political donations on behalf of a corporation or other entity.
- Corporations and other entities are prohibited from making political donations to an individual for the purpose of that individual making political donations.
- Payment of an annual or other subscription to a political party by an industrial organisation or other entity is prohibited.
The Authority will be conducting information seminars in May, June and July this year for candidates, groups and political parties throughout NSW ahead of the 2012 Local Government Elections. Details of the seminars will be available on the Election Funding Authority website.
Additionally, the Election Funding Authority has implemented a subscription service to provide updates and other relevant information for stakeholders that opt in. The subscription service is available on the EFA's website.
Local Government (General) Amendment (Election Procedures) Regulation 2012
The Division of Local Government (Department of Premier & Cabinet) has recently written to Councils (see Circular 12-05) advising that the Local Government (General) Amendment (Election Procedures) Regulation 2012 took effect on 24 February 2012. The object of the Regulation is to amend the Local Government (General) Regulation 2005 for the purpose of:
- making various provisions of the Regulation consistent with corresponding provisions that regulate State elections under the Parliamentary Electorates and Elections Act 1912.
- requiring paid electoral advertisements published on the internet during the regulated period for an election to show the name and address of the person who authorised the advertisement (in a similar manner to the requirement relating to other electoral material in clause 356G of the Principal Regulation and the requirement relating to internet advertising in section 328A of the Commonwealth Electoral Act 1918).
- making other micsellansious amendments of a minor or machinery nature.