Candidates encouraged to get a head start

Prospective candidates for the 2021 NSW Local Government elections can start their nomination applications now. 

Nominations are the process by which candidates can have their name included on ballot papers. They can be lodged online from Monday, 25 October 2021 and close at 12 noon on Wednesday, 3 November 2021.

NSW Electoral Commissioner John Schmidt said nominations can now be made entirely online for the first time at local council elections via the Commission’s Nominations Online Management System (NOMS). At previous Local Government elections, submitting nominations was a purely paper-based process.

“I encourage anyone planning to nominate to get started on their nomination today. The system is open and we have information on our website to help prospective candidates through every step of the process,” he said.

“Candidates can get their applications ready online now so when nominations officially open Monday, 25 October, all they’ll need to do is press submit.”

Candidates may be nominated by either a registered political party or two electors.

Candidates and groups can only accept political donations or make payments for electoral expenditure before 4 November 2021 if they have already registered (not just lodged their nomination) with the Electoral Commission

Access to the Nominations Online Management System and hard copy forms are available from elections.nsw.gov.au or by calling the candidate helpdesk on 1300 022 011.

Information about nominations is available in the NSW Electoral Commission’s Candidate Handbook. Late nominations cannot be accepted. Lodgement of paper nominations forms may be made at returning offices. Opening hours for these offices are available on our website.

Media contact
nswecmedia@elections.nsw.gov.au
Phone: 1300 135 736