2024 Local Government Elections

Joanne Crawford

Phone: (02) 9179 0450
Office location: Shop 7, 195 Wollombi Road, Cessnock (Market Place Shopping Centre)

Our LGA is divided into four areas called ‘Wards’ and each ward has three Councillors to represent the people within these areas.

Our ward boundaries have changed since the last election. It is important that you check if the ward you are in has changed. You can view ward maps on our How does Council work page.

You can also check which ward you are in on the NSW Electoral Commission website.

Voting is compulsory for people who are enrolled to vote in the Cessnock local government area.

If you are a resident of Cessnock City Council Local Government Area, you can check if your enrolment details are up-to-date with the Australian Electoral Commission. Council does not hold electoral information for local residents.

The NSW Electoral Commission is responsible for providing approval for viewing the electoral roll.

To inspect the electoral roll, you must complete an application form and provide photographic identification to the NSW Electoral Commission. To access electoral enrolment information in any other way, you must write a formal letter to the NSW Electoral Commissioner and explain the reason for your request.

Please refer to the NSW Electoral Commission website for further information and the full process for this request.

The electoral roll is not available for viewing online, nor is it available for sale. It is illegal to copy an electoral roll and heavy penalties apply for using enrolment information for non-approved purposes.

The non-residential roll and the roll of occupiers and rate-paying lessees for local government election purposes is available for public inspection at the Cessnock City Council’s administration building upon request. Please complete the form below, and a staff member will get in touch with you to organise a suitable time.

The NRR is not available for viewing online, nor is it available for sale. It is illegal to copy an NRR and heavy penalties apply for using enrolment information for non-approved purposes.

If you are not a resident, you may be entitled to vote if you own, occupy or lease property in the local area as a corporation, business or individual. 

This is known as Council’s Non-Residential Roll (NRR). This is in addition to voting in the local government area within which you reside. You can only vote once in any local government area. It is not compulsory to enrol to vote in the NRR.

Enrolments on the NRR have now closed, with no further submissions able to be made.

The Electoral Commission has now confirmed the pre-polling locations.

There are 3 locations available for pre-polling from Saturday 7 September to Friday 13 September 2024: 

• Branxton Community Hall (35 Bowen St, Branxton)

• Cessnock Returning Office (Shop 7, 195 Wollombi Road, Cessnock)

• Kurri Kurri Senior Citizens Hall(132 Barton St, Kurri Kurri)

Note: all locations are closed on Sunday 8 September 2024.

On Election Day (Saturday 14 September), you must vote at a polling place in your ward (unless you pre-poll or postal vote).  This is because only the polling places in your ward have the ward ballot papers you need to complete.

Alternatively, Cessnock Public School will accept voting from residents in all 4 wards. You cannot vote at the Returning Office on Election Day.

 Our ward boundaries have changed since the last election. It is important that you check if the ward you are in has changed.

You can enter your address on the NSW Electoral Commission website and it will tell you which ward you belong to and show you a map of polling places.

You will most likely receive a $55 fine. Council does not issue the fines and cannot overturn them.

More information about penalties for not voting is available on the NSW Electoral Commission website.

If you are 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. 

For more information on how to become a Councillor or Mayor, read the below Candidates FAQ, visit the Office of Local Government's Become a Councillor and Information for Candidates pages, visit the Political Participants section of the NSW Electoral Commission website, or download a Candidate Handbook here.

You can check the eligibility requirements on the NSW Electoral Commission website here. If you are still unsure whether you are eligible to run for public office in a local council or how the law applies to your specific circumstances, you should seek independent legal advice.

If eligible to nominate as a Mayor or Councillor, you must first lodge a nomination form. You can lodge your nomination online using the Electoral Commission’s online nomination system. Alternatively, paper nomination forms are available by calling the NSW Electoral Commission's Candidate Helpdesk on 1300 022 011. 

Visit the Political Participants section of the NSW Electoral Commission website for more information. You can also download the Candidate Handbook here.

Yes. Two or more Councillor candidates may form a group on the ballot paper and, where eligible, request a group voting square (box above the line) be printed on the ballot paper for the group.

In addition to lodging the nomination form, these candidates must also lodge a Request to form a group form.

Visit the Political Participants section of the NSW Electoral Commission website for more information. You can also download the Candidate Handbook here.

In preparation for the 2024 Local Government Election, all political parties and candidates need to be informed of their legislative obligations concerning election matter.

The placement of posters and signs associated with elections causes concern for Council and our community. The placement of electoral matter is in contravention to legislative requirements, and responding to complaints about these materials, becomes a resourcing issue and diverts Council officers from normal duties unnecessarily.

Election posters and signs during election periods are regulated under the Electoral Act 2017 (Cth) (Electoral Act) and the State Environmental Planning Policy (Exempt and Complying Development Codes) 2008 (NSW) (SEPP 2008) and penalties apply for non-compliance.

Please refer to the following document for a summary of the rules and regulations, as well as common FAQs surrounding Election Signage.

Placement of Election Signage - Cessnock Local Government Area(PDF, 171KB)

All candidates must pay a nomination deposit of $125 each to the NSW Electoral Commission. Where candidates also lodge a Request to form a group, the deposit is capped at $625 for a group of five candidates or more. 

Visit the Political Participants section of the NSW Electoral Commission website for more information.

For more information, please visit the NSW Electoral Commission website or phone them on 1300 135 736.

For general election enquiries, please contact council@cessnock.nsw.gov.au or (02) 4993 4100. 

Late nominations will not be accepted. However, if using paper nomination forms, you must lodge your nomination and deposit with the Returning Officer for the council area in which you intend to stand as a candidate.

NSW has strict laws that regulate the election campaign finances of political parties, candidates and groups at the election. These include requirements to operate a campaign account, and to record and disclose political donations and electoral expenditure. In addition, there are caps on political donations and electoral expenditure.

Prior to being nominated, candidates and groups can separately apply to the NSW Electoral Commission to be registered for electoral funding regulation purposes. Only once successfully registered is a candidate or group allowed to accept political donations and pay for electoral expenditure.

Forms for applying to be registered as a candidate or group are available on the Commission’s website. Online registration is also now available.

Learn more on the Funding and Disclosure Policies page on the Commission's website. Enquiries about being registered and the laws that apply to political donations and electoral expenditure should be sent to fdc@elections.nsw.gov.au.

Visit the Political Participants section of the NSW Electoral Commission website for more information. You can also download the Candidate Handbook here.

A draw to determine the order of candidate names on the ballot paper and groups (where applicable) will be conducted at the office of the Returning Officer.

This will be held at: Cessnock Returning Office (Shop 7, 195 Wollombi Road, Cessnock) on Thursday 15 August 2024 at 2.00pm.

The ballot paper draw is open to the public and may be observed in person by candidates, representatives of registered political parties and the media.

For more information of becoming a Councillor, you can go to the Office of Local Government’s website.

The NSW Electoral Commission will also be providing a series of webinars for candidates. A summary of the webinar topics is provided below.

You can also call the Commission's Candidate Helpdesk on 1300 022 011 or email the Helpdesk at candidates@elections.nsw.gov.au.

If you are deaf, hard of hearing and/or have a speech impairment, please contact the NSW Electoral Commission through the National Relay Service (NRS). Choose your access option and ask for 1300 135 736. If you need an interpreter, please call TIS National on 131 450 and ask them to call the NSW Electoral Commission on 1300 135 736.

Candidate Briefing Web Links(PDF, 59KB)

Questions and Answers from Candidate Information Session(PDF, 148KB)

NSW Electoral Commission YouTube Channel

Information in Your Language – NSW Electoral Commission website assistance for those who speak a language other than English.