Council Election 2024

Councillor Elections 2024

Save the date 2024 NSW Electoral Commision social media graphic

Council currently has a State appointed Administrator, Mr Viv May PSM. Following a Public Inquiry, on 14 July 2022 the Minister for Local Government dismissed all Councillors, and this followed their suspension since 12 March 2021.

The next Wingecarribee Shire Council election is scheduled for 14 September 2024. All voters will have the chance to elect councillors at the NSW Government elections on Saturday 14 September 2024. Voting is compulsory.

Key Dates

Monday 5 August 2024

  • Close of roll for the purposes of being nominated
  • Lodgement of nominations commence

Saturday 7 September 2024 

  • Pre-poll voting period opens
  • Telephone voting registration and voting open

Monday 9 September 2024

  • Postal vote applications close at 5pm

Friday 13 September 2024

  • Pre-poll voting closes
  • Telephone voting registration closes

Saturday 14 September 2024

  • 8am - 6pm: Election day

Friday 27 September 2024

  • Postal pack return ends

You can find more information about key dates including information on postal voting, pre-poll voting, telephone voting on the NSW Electoral Commission website.

 

Non-Residential Roll

If you own a business or property in the Wingecarribee Shire you can vote in council elections!

Even if you don't live here, you can have a say in the Wingecarribee Shire Council (WSC) LGA elections if your business or property is located within the Shire. This applies to companies, organisations and individuals who:

  • Own land in the Wingecarribee Shire
  • Occupy land in the Wingecarribee Shire (like a tenant)
  • Lease land in the Wingecarribee Shire and pay rates

How to vote:

To vote in council elections, you need to be registered on the Wingecarribee Shire Council's non-residential roll. This registration is specific to each election, so you'll need to register again for future elections.

There are two ways to register:

  • If you're the only owner/occupant/lessee, use the Individual Claim form.
  • If there are multiple owners/occupants/lessees, use the Nomination Claim form to choose one person to vote on everyone's behalf.

Forms for inclusion in the Non-Residential roll are available at the Civic Centre or online below.

Once completed please send the form to the General Manager using one of the below methods:

  • By email: mail@wsc.nsw.gov.au (preferred)
  • In person: Civic Centre, 68 Elizabeth Street, Moss Vale, NSW, 2577. Open 8:30 am - 4:30 pm, Monday - Friday
  • By post: PO Box 141, Moss Vale NSW 2577

Registration for inclusion on the non-residential roll for 2024 Council elections closes at 6:00 pm on Monday 5 August 2024.

For more information on non-residential enrolment or the local government elections, visit the NSW Electoral Commission website.

 

 

Check Your Enrollment Details

Voting is compulsory for eligible Australian citizens.

We encourate residents to check and if needed update their enrollment details before the election date by either:

How to Vote

There are several ways you can cast your vote:

In person on Election Day (Saturday 14 September 2024)

Polling stations will be set up at local schools, churches, community halls and public buildings across the Wingecarribee Shire 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.

By Postal Vote

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

  • are outside of the electorate where you are enrolled to vote
  • are more that 8km from a polling station
  • are travelling
  • are unable to attend due to work commitments 
  • are seriously unwell, infirm, or due to give birth (or a carer for someone who is)
  • are a patient in hospital and can't vote at the hospital
  • have religious beliefs that stop you from attending a polling location
  • 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 you meet any of the above criteria and wish to submit a postal vote, you can request a ballet 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.

In Person Prior to Election Day

If you are unable to attend a polling station on election day, you can vote at an early election voting station. The pre-poll voting will take place from Saturday 7 September 2024 until Friday 13 September 2024.

The NSW Electoral Commission’s website will publish details of the locations and operating times of the early voting centres.

You can find more information about Local Government Elections on the OLG (Office of Local Government) website.  

Further information about the Wingecarribee Shire Council Public Inquiry is available on the NSW Office of Local Government website.  

Councillor Candidates for 2024

Please visit the NSW Electoral Commission website to see a Register of Candidates for the upcoming September 2024 election https://registers.elections.nsw.gov.au/s/registers-of-candidates

Voting Eligibility 

If you're a resident in the Wingecarribee Shire Local Government Area, you can check if your enrolment details are up to date, by visiting the Australian Electoral Commission. 

Non-Residential Roll

 

What is a non-residential roll?

There are two non-residential rolls:

  • The roll of non-resident owners of rateable land, and
  • The roll of occupiers and rate-paying lessees.

These two rolls are combined with the residential roll to form the roll of electors for a council area, which is used during an election. The residential roll is the list of people who live in the council area and are eligible to vote in elections.

Why do non-residential rolls exist?

The non-residential rolls provide people who are non-resident owners, occupiers and rate-paying lessees of rateable land within the council area an opportunity to have a say in who is elected to council.

 

Who manages the non-residential rolls?

It is the responsibility of the general manager of the council to maintain the roll of non-resident owners of rateable land and the roll of occupiers and rate-paying lessees. After each election, the non-residential rolls lapse. Then as soon as is practicable, the general manager prepares new rolls for the next election and keeps them updated. If you applied to be on a roll previously and are still qualified to be on that roll, you should be included on the new roll.

 

Is it compulsory to be on a non-residential roll if I am eligible to be?

No.

 

Is it compulsory to vote if I am on a non-residential roll?

No, if you are on a non-residential roll, you do not have to vote and will not receive a fine for not voting. It is still compulsory that you vote in the area where you are on the residential roll.

Can I enrol and vote more than once in the same council area?

No. If you are a resident of a council area then you are not permitted to also enrol as a non-resident in that area.

Non-residents who own, occupy, or pay rates on multiple parcels of land in the same area may only be enrolled once for that area. This also applies to corporations, trustees and joint/several owners, occupiers and rate paying lessees of multiple parcels of land – they may nominate only one person to be enrolled on each non-residential roll, if eligible.

 

Who is eligible to be on a non-residential roll?

You must be eligible to vote at Federal or State elections to be on a non-residential roll. Your eligibility must be based on land within the council area and must not only be used as a car park.

To be on the roll of non-resident owners of rateable land, you must be:

  • The sole owner of the rateable land, or
  • Nominated as the elector by the joint or several owners of the rateable land, or
  • Nominated as the elector by the corporation or trustees who own the rateable land, or
  • The lessee of the land from the Crown and the land is rateable Crown land.

To be on the roll of occupiers and rate-paying lessees, you must be:

  • The sole occupier or ratepaying lessee of rateable land, or
  • Nominated as the elector by the joint or several occupiers or ratepaying lessees of the rateable land, or
  • Nominated as the elector by the corporation or trustees who occupy or are the ratepaying lessee of the rateable land, and have the legal right to occupy the land, or be responsible for paying all or part of the rates on the land for 3 years following the date you apply to be on the roll.

 

How do I apply to be on the non-residential roll?

Use the Form for individual owners, occupiers and ratepaying lessees or Form for nomination of an elector by joint/several, corporate or trustee owners, occupiers or ratepaying lessees to apply to be on a non-residential roll. The general manager of Wingecarribee Shire Council will advise you within 7 days if your enrolment was accepted. 

Please note that your completed form must be received by 6.00pm (AEST) on Monday 26 July 2021. 

 

How can I check what roll I am on?

You can check your residential enrolment at check.aec.gov.au or by calling the AEC on 13 23 26.

Contact Wingecarribee Shire Council to check whether you are enrolled on a non-residential roll. 

Can I inspect the non-residential rolls?

The general manager will make the latest copy of the non-residential rolls available for public inspection during office hours at Wingecarribee Shire Council, once it has been prepared. Contact Wingecarribee Shire Council if you have questions or concerns about your non-residential enrolment. 

 

Candidate Information Sessions

 1.-Teams-Image.png  

 

Become a Councillor

If you're passionate about what happens in your local community, becoming a councillor is an exciting opportunity to make a difference and to represent the interests of residents.

As a councillor you are expected to represent the views of the whole community while making decisions in their interests, demonstrate conduct that the community expects and deserves, and plan and oversee the running of the significant and complex business of Council.

Learn more at become a Councillor. 

To learn more about registration, nomination, election campaign finances, voting and other election processes, as well as important dates and deadlines, go to the NSW Electoral Commission website at elections.nsw.gov.au.

Candidate Information Sessions

Sessions were run in partnership with the NSW Office of Local Government, Central Coast and Balranald Council and facilitated by John Rayner PSM, former General Manager, Administrator and experienced Local Government Leader. 

The sessions aimed to provide potential candidates with the information to:

  • Gain an understanding of Council legal provisions and community expectations;
  • Look into the function of a governing body of a Council;
  • Demystify the roles and responsibilities of Councillors, including workload and the support available;
  • Role of the Mayor within the Council framework;
  • Provide Insights into the General Manager's role;
  • Clarify the separation of strategic and operational responsibilities; and
  • Advise key dates every Councillor should be aware of
  • Opportunities to ask questions

Sessions were held on 11 October 2023, 10 April 2024, 8 May 2024 and 12 June 2024. The session content can be found below under related information.

Links to useful information for Candidates

Reports and reviews commissioned by the Administrator can be found below in the Related Information section. 

Questions? Email candidatesessions@wsc.nsw.gov.au  

Related Information

Back to top