The 2024 NSW Local Government elections will be held on Saturday 14 September 2024. You will be asked to vote for your local Councillors, and to respond to a Constitutional Referendum question on reducing the total number of Councillors from 15 to 9.

The Local Government election and the referendum will be conducted by the NSW Electoral Commission.

Visit our NSW Local Government election page for more information

What is the NSW Local Government election?

Local government elections are held in NSW on the second Saturday in September every four years. At local government elections, voters in each local government area elect councillors to their local council.

After the new councillors have been elected, they will vote to elect one of the councillors as mayor for a two-year term. At the end of the two-year term the councillors elect a new mayor for the following two years.

What is the Constitutional Referendum?

On 13 May, Council resolved to hold a binding Constitutional Referendum at the 14 September Local Government Election, asking residents whether they favour reducing the total number of Councillors from 15 to 9, which would also see a reduction of wards in our LGA from 5 to 3. 

If the majority of electors vote yes to this proposal at the upcoming election, the reduction would come into effect for the term of Council commencing in 2028. Voting in the referendum is compulsory for Australian citizens over the age of 18 years. 

For more information on the referendum resolution by Council, visit: Your Say Woollahra.

Check your enrolment details

Voting is compulsory for eligible Australian citizens. All residents are encouraged to check and if necessary, update, their enrolment details prior to the election date by visiting the NSW Electoral Commission’s website or calling 1300 135 736.

How to cast your vote

There are a number of different ways that you can cast your vote.

1) On election day (Saturday 14 September), in person

There will be many polling stations set up at local schools, churches, community halls and public buildings within the Woollahra Council area. Voting opens at 8am on election day and closes at 6pm.

The NSW Electoral Commission’s website will publish the process of voting at a polling place on election day so you know what to expect. 

2) Postal votes

Voters are eligible for early voting, either in-person or by post, if on election day you:

• are outside the electorate where you are enrolled to vote
• are more than 8km from a polling place
• are travelling
• are unable to leave your workplace to vote
• are seriously ill, infirm, or due to give birth shortly (or caring for someone who is)
• are a patient in hospital and can't vote at the hospital
• have religious beliefs that prevent you from attending a polling place
• are in prison serving a sentence of less than three years or otherwise detained
• are a silent elector
• have a reasonable fear for your safety.

If voters wish to cast a postal vote, voters are able to request a postal ballot from the NSW Electoral Commission’s website from Tuesday, 6 August 2024. Postal vote applications close at 5pm on Monday 9 September 2024.

The distribution of postal packs starts on Monday, 19 August 2024.

3) Early voting, in person