The nominations period has officialy opened for candidates wanting to stand in the 2021 NSW government elections to be held on Saturday December 4, 2021.
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The nominations period for candidates will be open from Monday, October 25 until 12pm on Wednesday, November 3.
A total of 124 councils will be holding elections on Saturday, December 4 after the NSW government made the decision to postpone the elections amidst the state's COVID outbreak in July, 2021.
The NSW Electoral Commission advises potential candidates for local council to follow a six-step process to ensure they comply with state electoral laws.
According to the Commission, to be nominated as a candidate for an election in a local government area (LGA) a person must be enrolled to vote in the LGA by 6pm on Monday, October 25 2021.
Candidates may be nominated by either a political party or two electors from the same LGA, and in some cases the same ward, as the potential nominee.
Voters in Muswellbrook Shire LGA will elect 12 councillors as part of a single ward.
Elected councillors will then determine the mayor of Muswellbrook at the next council meeting following the finalisation of election results.
Meanwhile, residents of the Upper Hunter Shire LGA will vote to elect nine councillors who, once elected, will similarly determine the mayor of the shire at the council's first meeting following the election.
Postal vote applications can be lodged with the NSW Electoral Commission from Tuesday, October 26.
Residents who are eligible to vote by telephone or online using iVote can lodge an application with the electoral commission from Monday, November 22.
Voters eligible to use the iVote service include people who are blind or have low vision, are unable to vote without assistance due to a disability or difficulty reading, are a silent elector, those who live more than 20km from a polling place and those who will not be within their council area during election day.
Following election day on December 4, the electoral commission will begin counting votes and distributing preferences from Tuesday, December 21.
Most council election results are expected to be finalised by Thursday, December 23 according to the NSW Electoral Commission.
