Voting and enrolment

Overview

The 2024 NSW Local Government Elections are scheduled to be held on Saturday 14 September 2024.

Shoalhaven City Council's election will be administered by the NSW Electoral Commission. Candidates for the 2024 Local Government Election will be announced via a ballot draw at 2:00pm on Thursday 15 August 2024.

For all information including key dates, please visit the NSW Electoral Commission website or call them on 1300 135 736.

Learn more about the 2024 local government elections

It is compulsory to vote in an election or by-election if you are eligible to do so. You may be fined if you miss an election, so it's important to make sure your enrolment details are up to date.

If you would like SMS and email reminders for state and local elections relevant to your enrolled address, please check your enrolment. After checking your enrolment, you will be offered the option to sign up for updates.

Voting and wards

The NSW Electoral Commission has various polling locations, see the candidates and polling locations page for a complete list of polling locations for your ward. To check which ward you’re in, use the voting ward tool.

Voters can cast their vote within their ward or attend one of the below multi-ward polling locations:

Voters from wards 1 and 2 can vote at the following multi-ward locations:

  • Bomaderry Public School
  • Nowra East Public School
  • Nowra Public School
  • Shoalhaven High School
  • Terara Public School

Voters from wards 2 and 3 can vote at the following multi-ward locations:

  • St Georges Basin Community Centre
  • Sanctuary Point Public School
  • Tomerong School of Arts Hall

Please note: all other polling locations (not listed above) are ward-specific voting only.

Enrolling to vote

Voting is compulsory in Australia and enables you to choose who represents you in federal, state and local governments.

You only need to enrol once with the Australian Electoral Commission (AEC) to vote for all three levels of government.

You can enrol to vote if you:

  • are an Australian citizen, or an eligible British subject enrolled to vote in Australia on 25 January 1984
  • are 16 years of age or older (but you cannot vote until you are 18)
  • have lived at your current address for at least one month

For more information on how to enrol, go to the AEC website.

Enrol to vote

Checking your enrolment

It's important to check which electorate you're enrolled in so that you know when and where you need to vote. You can check your enrolment details on the NSW Electoral Commission website.

Check my enrolment details

Updating your details

If you need to update your details, you can do so through the Australian Electoral Commission website.

Please note: If you have moved house recently, you will be able to enrol in your new electorate after you have lived at your new address for at least one month.

Update my details

Postal voting

Voters may apply directly to be enrolled or to receive election reminders through the NSW Electoral Commission website. 

To be counted, your completed ballot papers and postal vote certificate must be received by the NSW Electoral Commission no later than 6:00pm on the 13th day after election day.

To find out if you are eligible to register as a general postal voter and to download an application form, visit the Australian Electoral Commission website.

Key dates for postal voting

Tuesday 6 August

Applications open to apply to Postal Vote - apply online or call 1300 135 736

Monday 19 August

Postal Packs distribution begins

Monday 9 September (5:00pm)

Applications close to apply for a postal vote.

Friday 27 September (6:00pm)

NSW Electoral Commission must receive your postal vote by this date.

Please note: If your circumstances are outside these dates, please contact the NSW Electoral Commission on 1300 135 736 to discuss your voting options.

Residential and non-residential voting

When you enrol to vote, you will automatically be included on the residential role for that LGA, and you must vote in the local government elections for that area.

However, if you or your company:

  • owns rateable land in a different LGA
  • occupies or is a rate-paying lessee (a lease holder) of rateable land in a different LGA

You may be eligible to vote on the non-residential role for that area as well.

You can only vote once within a Council area regardless of which roll you are on, i.e. You can only be enrolled to vote in one ward within an LGA, even if you own multiple properties in more than one ward within that area, and the same rule applies within an undivided LGA.

You can enrol in any number of Council areas if you meet the eligibility criteria for the non-residential roll.

Applying for inclusion in the non-residential roll

Please note: Applications for inclusion on the non-residential roll closed at 6:00pm on Monday, 5 August 2024.

Non-residential rolls are prepared and certified by the General Manager (also known as the CEO) of each council, and the eligibility of the voters listed is then confirmed by the NSW Electoral Commission.

However, you are responsible for checking that you are eligible for the non-residential roll when you apply. Eligibility criteria can differ from council to council, so it is recommended that you seek independent advice if you are unsure if you are eligible or not.