Council Elections

Overview

Local Government Elections are a chance for you to have your say and elect a Council which represents you.  As a resident, here is what you need to know.

We will update the following pages as more information is made available.

2024 Council Elections

On Saturday 14 September 2024, the election of Mayor and 12 Councillors will take place in Fairfield Local Government Area (Fairfield LGA).

Council’s election will be conducted by an electoral services provider, the Australian Election Company (AustElect) and not the NSW Electoral Commission.

Apply for postal vote here

Information regarding the administration and participation in Local Government Elections for Fairfield City Council is available here.

Key election dates are as follows:

• Monday 5 August Nominations Open 6.00pm: Close of Rolls, Non-Residential Roll applications due 
• Wednesday 14 August 12pm (noon): NOMINATION DAY - Close of nominations, Registration of Electoral Material commences
• Thursday 15 August 11am declaration of nominations including ballot paper draw (Waratah Room Fairfield Showgrond)
• Monday 19 August 6pm:  Candidates Information Session
• Friday 6 September 5.00pm: Registration of Election Material closes
• Saturday 7 September Declared Institution voting commences
• Saturday 7 September Pre-poll voting opens
• Monday 9 September 5.00pm: Postal vote application closes
• Friday 13 September 6.00pm: Declared Institution voting closes, Pre-poll voting closes
• Saturday 14 September 8.00am-6.00pm: ELECTION DAY
• Friday 27 September 6.00pm: Return of Postal Votes closes

From Monday 15 July 2024, enquiries can be directed to the Returning Officer, Milan Kuban on 9598 8660 email: Fairfield.ro@austelect.com or the Substitute Returning Officer, Allan Wilcox on 9598 8660 email: Fairfield.ro2@austelect.com

A map containing all polling places where you can vote on Election Day and pre-poll can be found here.(PDF, 968KB)

A list of suburbs and Wards can be found here.(PDF, 86KB)

How to vote

Early Voting Options

You may be entitled to a postal or pre-poll vote.

If you cannot get to a Polling Place on Election Day you can vote in one of the following ways:

1. You can vote prior to the day at a Pre Poll venue.  These are listed on the Council website. 
2. Obtain a postal vote Application Form from the Returning Officer or the AustElect website.

Postal Voting

It will be necessary to complete an application for a postal vote.  The application is returned to our Election Office for processing.  If all is in order, ballot material is forwarded to the elector’s nominated address by post. 

If you wish to make a postal vote you need to make an application with Council’s Election Office.  Please call 9598 8660 no later than 5pm on Monday 9 September 2024 to make a postal vote application (No conditions apply).

Alternatively email Fairfield.admin@austelect.com for postal vote applications and general enquiries.

Pre-poll Voting

Is undertaken at the office of the Returning Officer or at a nominated Pre Poll venue.  The Pre Poll Officer will check your enrolment on the relevant voter’s roll (Certified List) and if all is in order will issue the ballot paper(s).  The votes are completed immediately and placed in the ballot boxes provided.

Pre-poll voting is available at the following locations, days and times.

Saturday 7 September to Friday 13 September 2024 (including Sunday 8 September 2024)

Election Day - Where can I vote?  

Casual positions available

Vacancies now open for Electoral Officials for Fairfield City Council's Election, apply today!

The Local Government Elections are being held on Saturday 14 September 2024.  Council has appointed the Australian Election Company (AusElect) to conduct these elections. 

AustElect is undertaking a recruitment drive for a range of positions available during the election period ie. pre-poll, Election Day and count. Key considerations include:

• Payment for these positions is determined by the electoral services provider, AustElect, not Council.
• Some of the days will be long hours eg. 7.00am to midnight.
• You must be available for the whole time you are required to work.
• Experience in working at elections is desirable.

How to apply:

1. Download and complete the Application for Employment as Election staff (Fairfield)(PDF, 111KB).
2. Send the completed form to Fairfield.staff@austelect.com.

To be considered for employment at the Council election you must be registered on the NSW or Federal Electoral Roll.

Please direct any queries about working at the 2024 Fairfield Council Elections to AustElect on 1800 224 420.

Are You Enrolled to Vote?

Voting at these elections is compulsory and fines apply if you fail to vote.

If you are a resident in the Fairfield LGA you can check if your enrolment details are up to date with the NSW Electoral Commission.

If you are on the NSW electoral roll and would like to get an email or text message reminder whenever a local government or state election is coming up, register on the NSWEC website for the NSW Electoral Reminder Facility.

Council does not hold electoral information for local residents.

A Returning Officer will be available from Monday 15 July 2024.

When are Local Government Elections held?

Under the Local Government Act 1993, Council elections are held on the second Saturday in September every 4 years.

The next Local Government election will be on Saturday 14 September 2024. 

Council encourages everyone who can vote to make their vote count by participating in the elections.

Candidates

The details of names of the candidates including the names of the political parties (if any) can be found here.

How are Local Government Elections conducted?

Councils have options for conducting their elections:

• The NSW Electoral Commission
• An electoral services provider

   

  Fairfield City Council determined on Tuesday 28 February 2023 that an electoral services provider will be conducting its elections in September 2024. The Council resolution is as follows that:

  1.  Pursuant to Section 296AA(1)(b) of the Local Government Act, an electoral services provider be engaged to administer all elections on behalf of Fairfield       City Council in September 2024.
  2. Pursuant to Section 296AA 2(a) an electoral services provider has been identified by the General Manager as outlined in Confidential Services Supplementary Item 33 to administer the ordinary election on behalf of Fairfield City Council in September 2024.  

• Further, Council determined on 28 February 2023 to enter into negotiations for the provision of the elections with the Australian Election Company.  The Council resolution is as follows that:

   

• In accordance with Section 55(3)(i) of the NSW Local Government Act 1993, Council decline to invite a tender because a satisfactory result would not be achieved by inviting tenders due to extenuating circumstances and the unavailability of competitive or reliable tenderers for the following reasons:

  1.1  an open Expression of Interest (EOI) was issued to 14 vendors through Councils eProcure system,

  1.2 the EOI was advertised publicly,

  1.3 14 companies opened the EOI and only 1 made a submission.

• In accordance with Clause 178(3) (e) of the Local Government (General) Regulation 2021, Council enter into negotiations with the Australian Election Company for the provision of entering into a contract to conduct the Local Government Elections in 2024.
• The General Manager be given delegated authority to conduct negotiations and enter into a suitable commercial agreement arising from the negotiations.

Detailed information from the election services provider about all aspects of the election can be found here.

Non-Residential Roll

If you are not a resident, you may be entitled to vote in the Fairfield Council elections, if you own, occupy or lease property in the Fairfield LGA as a corporation, business or individual. You will have to be registered on Fairfield Council’s non-residential roll. A non-residential roll is only valid for the council election it is prepared for, so you must re-enrol for every election.

You can enrol on the non-residential roll, if you are:

• an owner of rateable land in the Fairfield LGA; or
• an occupier or rate-paying lessee of rateable land in the Fairfield LGA.

You will need to fill out the Individual Claim form. If you own, occupy or lease the property with other people, you must nominate who will be voting on behalf of everyone and fill out the Nomination Claim form.

Forms for inclusion on the Non-Residential Roll are available at Council’s Administration Centre, 86 Avoca Road Wakeley, by calling 9725 0226 or below:

Non-Residential Form (Individual) LG127I(PDF, 182KB)

Non-Residential Form (Nominee) LG127N(PDF, 208KB)

For more information on non-residential enrolment, visit the NSWEC website.

Once you have completed the Form, send it to the General Manager using any of the below methods:

By hand: 86 Avoca Road Wakeley

By post: PO Box 21 Fairfield 1860

By email: governance@fairfieldcity.nsw.gov.au

Registration for inclusion on the non-residential roll for the 2024 Council elections closes at 6.00pm on Monday 5 August 2024.

For more information on local government elections, visit the NSW Electoral Commission website.

Information for Prospective Candidates - Becoming a Councillor

The Office of Local Government have developed a Candidate Toolkit and Candidate Guide to assist you in understanding the role of a councillor and candidate at the upcoming Local Government elections. Learn more about becoming a Councillor

In addition, Council has prepared information on Becoming a Councillor to assist prospective candidates.

The presentation will enable those interested in becoming a Councillor to gain a better understanding of the role and responsibilities as an elected member of Council including:

• Identify the key requirements of becoming a Councillor;
• Recognise how the role of Councillor fits in with other roles and various levels of government;
• Address key expectations and potential challenges in becoming a Councillor;
• Know how the Councillor role fits in with the Integrated Planning and Reporting framework
• Understand key elements of Council meetings including Code of Conduct and conflict of interest.
• Become familiar with the key features of the Fairfield Local Government Area and the wide range of services provided by Council for its community.

View the Information for Prospective Candidates presentation(PDF, 2MB)

Becoming a Councillor

Nominations will be called for positions on the Council as of Monday 5 August 2024. Intending candidates must complete and submit their nomination to the Returning Officer by noon on Wednesday 14 August 2024. 

The NSW Electoral Commission website contains detailed information pertaining to candidate/group registration, funding, disclosure and campaign requirements and matters; please consult the NSW Electoral Commission at www.elections.nsw.gov.au or telephone 1300 022 011.

In addition, the Office of Local Government website has publications which give an overview of the role of a Councillor and how to nominate as a candidate for the local government election.

How the Result is Declared

At the close of polling, staff at the polling place conduct an initial count of votes and make an initial determination as to the formality of the votes. They record the results before transferring the ballot papers to a central counting area to check and record votes again.

Postal votes, pre-poll votes, votes from Declared Institutions (hospitals and nursing homes) are also added to the tallies to determine the final result. 

The Election Manager will give approval for the Returning Officer to declare the final results of the election.  Council publishes the election results on this website and at its Administration Centre.

A progressive update on the election results is available now:

Fairfield Council Election Live Results

After the Election

After each Local Government election, the Office of Local Government surveys all councils. A report provides information about the representation of the community on local councils. The report identifies:

• Councillors and candidate demographics such as gender, age and experience
• Election trends over time

Past Election Results