Who is eligible to vote early or pre-poll?
State election
You may be eligible to vote in person before election day at an early voting centre for a State election if you:
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will be outside New South Wales on election day
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will be more than 8km from a voting centre in your electorate, ward or council area on election day
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will be travelling and unable to attend a voting centre on election day
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are seriously ill or infirm, and due to such illness or infirmity will be unable to attend a voting centre
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are approaching maternity
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have religious membership or beliefs that prevent you from attending a voting centre on election day
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are in a correctional centre and prevented from attending a voting centre on election day
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are caring for a person outside of a hospital setting, which prevents you from attending a voting centre on election day
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will be working on election day
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are a silent elector
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are a person with a disability
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believe that attending a voting centre on election day will place your personal safety or the safety of your family at risk.
Local election
You may be eligible to vote in person before election day at a pre-poll venue for a local election if you:
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will be outside your ward or council area on election day
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will be more than 8km from a polling place in your electorate, ward or council area on election day
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will be travelling and unable to attend a polling place on election day
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are approaching maternity
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have religious membership or beliefs that prevent you from attending a polling place on election day
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are caring for a person outside of a hospital setting, which prevents you from attending a polling place on election day
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are seriously ill or infirm, and will be precluded from attending any polling place to vote
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will be working on election day
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are a silent elector
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are a person with a disability
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are being kept in a correctional centre (as per the Crimes [Administration of Sentences] Act 1999), and precluded from attending any polling place to vote
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believe that attending a polling place on election day will place your personal safety or the safety of your family at risk.
City of Sydney local government elections
Electors who are enrolled in the City of Sydney local government area are eligible to vote at an early voting centre simply by being enrolled in that area, they do not have to meet any of the other early voting eligibility reasons.
Where to vote early or pre-poll
Early voting or pre-polling begins on the Monday after the close of nominations and ends the Friday before election day.
In most circumstances, you can vote at the election manager’s or returning officer's office during this period. Other early voting centres or pre-poll venues may be available.
To find the location and opening hours of all early voting venues, go to our Elections page and select the relevant election event. Details will be included in the 'Unable to vote on election day' section.
How to vote before election day
If you are eligible to vote early or pre-poll, you can visit an early voting centre or pre-poll venue in your electorate, ward or council area and cast your vote.
If you are voting outside your district in a State election, you will be asked to complete and sign a declaration envelope. This helps us ensure your name is marked off the electoral roll properly and your vote is counted correctly.
In a local election, you can only cast a pre-poll vote in your enrolled ward or council area.
Declared institutions and facilities
We visit some nursing homes, convalescent homes, hospitals and similar institutions to allow residents to vote from home before election day. Find out more about declared facilities.