Elections

Saturday 4 December 2021 was Local Government Election Day and our new Council is expected to be declared on 23 December 2021 with the Mayoral Election to be held 30 December 2021.

A person is entitled to vote at a council election if they are:

• at least eighteen years of age 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. Please visit the Electoral Commission website for further information regarding postal and pre-poll voting.

If you need to check your enrolment or update your address, here's the link.

Legal Obligations of Candidates

It is the responsibility of Councillors seeking re-election and new candidates to familiarise themselves with the legislated responsibilities of candidates and councillors around the election itself, such as nominating and the rules around campaigning.

The nomination process, the electoral laws that candidates must comply with and the ongoing obligations of councillors to make disclosures about electoral funding are administered by the NSW Electoral Commission (NSWEC). Non-compliance with or mistakes about these responsibilities may mean political participants miss out on running in an election and/or find themselves facing significant enforcement action, such as fines.

We would strongly suggest that candidates consult with the NSWEC to get a full understanding of the processes, their obligations in relation to nomination and other laws that apply to candidates.  Returning Councillors and candidates should go to the NSWEC’s website at www.elections.nsw.gov.au for more information. Candidates can also contact the NSWEC via email candidates@elections.nsw.gov.au or phone the Candidate Helpdesk 1300 022 011.

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 links 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.

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.

Please visit the Electoral Commission website for further information regarding applying for inclusion on the Non-Residential Roll.

Streets by Ward Listing

Visit our ward map to determine what Ward your street is located in, if you live in the Randwick City Council area.

Political Donations

Candidates for the Local Government Elections should familiarise themselves with the Election Funding, Expenditure and Disclosures Act 1981. To assist, the NSW Electoral Commission (Funding, Disclosure & Compliance Branch) has published guidebooks and information on its website.

For more information use this link to the NSW Electoral Commission website.

Postal Voting

If your circumstances make it difficult for you to go to a voting centre on election day, you may be eligible to apply for a postal vote. You can apply if you:

• believe that attending a voting centre on election day will place your personal safety or the safety of your family at risk.
• will be outside NSW
• ​will be more than 8km from a voting centre on election day
• will be travelling and unable to attend a voting centre on election day
• have serious illness or condition that prevents you from attending a voting centre on election day
• are approaching maternity
• have religious membership or beliefs that prevent you from attending a voting centre on election day
• are in a correctional centre and prevented from attending a voting centre on election day
• are caring for a person outside of a hospital setting, which prevents you from attending a voting centre on election day
• will be working on election day
• are a silent elector
• are a person with a disability

How to apply for a postal vote

You can apply for a postal vote online at https://www.elections.nsw.gov.au/Contact-us or by sending the NSW Electoral Commission an application in the post to 231 Elizabeth Street Sydney NSW 2000. You must apply for a postal vote for each election unless you have registered as a general postal voter. General postal voters do not need to apply for a postal vote as they will be sent ballot papers automatically.

Key dates