The Local Government Elections will be held on Saturday 14 September 2024.
The 2024 Local Government Elections for the Snowy Monaro Regional Council are being coordinated by the NSW Electoral Commission (NSWEC).
Enrolments for the 2024 Local Government Election close at 6pm Monday 5 August 2024.
You can find information about the elections on the NSWEC website – https://elections.nsw.gov.au
At this election voters will be asked to vote on:
- Which candidates should become a Councillor for the next term of Council (2024–2028).
If you’re over 18, are an Australian citizen (or eligible British subject) and live in the Snowy Monaro Regional Council area, make sure you’re enrolled to vote.
Information on how to enrol to vote or to check your enrolment details is provided here https://elections.nsw.gov.au/voters/enrolment
The NSW Electoral Commission will be conducting a series of webinars for candidates in the lead up to the Local Government elections. People who are interested in attending the webinars can register via the NSWEC website https://elections.nsw.gov.au
Recordings of the webinars will be available on the website.
The following webinars will be held:
- Election funding (political donations), disclosures and compliance
- Candidate information
- Nominations
- Third-party campaigners
- Electoral material (how-to-vote), compliance, early voting, and election day voting
- Candidate workers, scrutineers, declared facilities
- Counting and results
- Post-election disclosure obligations and other rules.
Pre-polling for the 2024 Local Government Elections will commence on 7 September 2024 and close on 13 September 2024. Here is a map of the locations.
BERRIDALE Snowy Monaro Council Office, 2 Myack Street, Berridale NSW 2628
BOMBALA Snowy Monaro Council Office, 71 Caveat Street, Bombala NSW 2632
COOMA Library 61 Vale Street, Cooma NSW 2630
- Saturday, 7 September – 9.00am to 6.00pm
- Sunday, 8 September - Closed
- Monday, 9 September to Wednesday, 11 September 8.30am to 5.30pm
- Thursday, 12 September – 8.30am to 8.00pm
- Friday, 13 September – 8.30am to 6.00pm
JINDABYNE Memorial Hall, 45 Kosciuszko Road, Jindabyne NSW 2627
- Saturday, 7 September – 9.00am to 6.00pm
- Sunday, 8 September - Closed
- Monday, 9 September to Wednesday, 11 September - 8.30am to 5.30pm
- Thursday, 12 September – 8.30am to 8.00pm
- Friday, 13 September – 8.30am to 6.00pm
Saturday 14 September 2024 is election day for the Local Government Elections. You can view a list and map of polling venues within the Snowy Monaro region at https://elections.nsw.gov.au/elections/find-my-electorate/councils/snowy-monaro#map-wrap
The non-residential roll closes on 5 August 2024.
You are eligible to vote as a non-resident in a ward or council area if you are:
- an owner of rateable land in the ward or council area
- an occupier or rate-paying lessee of rateable land in the ward or council area.
Further information concerning the non-residential roll can be found at: https://elections.nsw.gov.au/voters/enrolment/other-enrolment-categories/non-residential-enrolment
Application forms for the Non-Residential Roll for Snowy Monaro Regional Council can be found here:
Submissions for the NRR will be received by Council up until 6pm on Monday 5 August and will be submitted to the Electoral Commission by 12 noon on 6 August 2024.
- 5 August 2024
Lodgement of nominations commence. This is also the start of regulated period for electoral material.
6pm – Close of Non-Residential Roll applications
- 6 August 2024
Lodgement of postal vote applications open
- 14 August 2024
Nominations close at 12 noon
Close of registration for candidates and groups
Registration of electoral material commences
- 15 August 2024
2pm – Ballot paper draws commence
Uncontested elections will be declared
- 19 August 2024
Postal pack distribution commences
- 6 September 2024
5pm – Registration of electoral material closes
- 7 September 2024
Pre-polling voting period commences
- 9 September 2024
Telephone voting registration and voting opens
5pm – close of postal vote applications
Close of registration for third party campaigners
- 13 September 2024
Pre-polling voting closes
Telephone voting registration closes
- 14 September 2024
Election Day
- 27 September 2024
Postal pack return ends
- 30 September 2024
Progressive distribution of preferences completed
- 1 to 3 October 2024
Progressive declaration of results
Council will go into a caretaker role during the election period. This happens to make sure major decisions are not made which would limit or bind the actions of an incoming Council during the declared period. Caretaker mode begins four (4) weeks prior to 14 September 2024.
Although the official caretaker period ends at 6pm on the day of the Election, Council will not be responsible for making any decisions until at least its first official Ordinary Meeting; prior to which all newly or re-elected Councillors will commence a formal induction process.
The arrangements regarding caretaker periods are made through the Local Government (General) Regulations. Clause 393B of the Regulation requires the Council, the CEO, or any other delegate of the Council (other than a Joint Regional Planning Panel) to not exercise the following functions during the four weeks preceding an election:
- Entering into any contract or undertaking involving an expenditure or receipt by the Council of an amount equal to or greater than $150,000 or 1% of the Council’s revenue from rates in the preceding financial year (whichever is the larger).
- Determining a controversial Development Application, except where a failure to make such a determination would give rise to a deemed refusal, or such a deemed refusal arose before the commencement of the caretaker period. The term “controversial Development Application” is defined as one for which at least 25 persons have made submissions by way of objection.
- Appointing or renewing the appointment of the CEO or terminating their employment. (This does not include the appointment of an acting or temporary CEO).
Postal vote applications can be made on the NSW Electoral Commission’s website at https://elections.nsw.gov.au from Tuesday 6 August 2024 until 5pm Monday 9 September 2024.
If you need assistance to apply for a postal vote, a NSW Electoral Commission customer service operator can help with the application over the phone.
Please contact the NSW Electoral Commission on 1300 135 736 or (02) 9290 5999 if calling from overseas.
Postal vote packs will start to be sent from Monday 19 August 2024.
For an elector’s vote to be counted ballot papers and postal vote certificates must be completed by 6pm Saturday 14 September 2024 (election day).
The completed ballot papers and postal vote certificate must be received by the NSW Electoral Commission by 6pm Friday 27 September 2024.
Snowy Monaro Regional Council will be accepting nominations at its Council Offices, 81 Commissioner Street, Cooma. Nominations open on Monday, 5 August 2024 and can be received until 12 noon on Wednesday 14 August 2024.
Nominations will be accepted between the hours of 8.30am and 4pm except for Wednesday 14 August 2024 when nominations will be accepted between 8.30am and close at 12 noon.
The Nominations Online Management System (NOMS) is now available for prospective candidates and registered political parties to commence preparing their nominations before the lodgement period opens on 5 August 2024.
Enquires about nominations should be directed to the NSW Electoral Commission’s Candidate Helpdesk on 1300 022 011 or candidates@elections.nsw.gov.au
The NSW Electoral Commission strongly encourages you to lodge your nomination online.
You must lodge a nomination form either:
- Online via the Nominations Online Management System (NOMS), or
- If using paper nomination forms by obtaining nomination forms from the Electoral Commission’s website https://elections.nsw.gov.au or the Returning Officer’s office and lodging with the Returning Officer. The Returning Officer for Snowy Monaro Regional Council is located in Queanbeyan and can be contacted by emailing QueanbeyanP@ro.elections.nsw.gov.au
- Paper nomination forms and deposits will also be accepted at Snowy Monaro Regional Council’s Cooma Office, 81 Commissioner Street, Cooma.
Candidates must also complete and lodge a candidate information sheet and statistical information sheet.
You are encouraged to start preparing your nomination now. Nomination forms, grouping forms and nomination deposits must be lodged between Monday 5 August and 12 noon Wednesday 14 August 2024. Late nominations cannot be accepted.
Prior to being nominated, candidates and groups wishing to accept political donations or pay for electoral expenditure must first apply to the NSW Electoral Commission to be registered for electoral funding purposes. Only once registered is a candidate or group allowed to accept political donations and pay for electoral expenditure. Candidates and groups can apply to be registered through the NSW Electoral Commission’s online registration and disclosure system, Funding and Disclosure Online.
Forms are also available by request at fdc@elections.nsw.gov.au or 1300 022 011. Applications for registration for electoral funding purposes close on Wednesday 14 August 2024. To learn more, go to elections.nsw.gov.au/funding-and-disclosure
The candidate handbook is now available on the NSW Electoral Commission’s website. This resource can assist candidates or political participants with any questions about participating in the 2024 NSW Local Government elections.