Local Government Elections

To find out which Ward you're in, search for you address on our online map or see the PDF map.

If you're a resident in the Willoughby City Council Local Government Area you can check if your enrolment details are up to date with the Australian Electoral Commission.

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

You may register in your own right as an individual or as a nominated company officer (or equivalent) of a corporation. Registration is not compulsory.

Completed application forms should be sent to Council by email or by post to PO Box 57, Chatswood NSW 2057.

Use the relevant form below for your application:

• Non Residential Roll Individual Application(PDF, 235KB)
• Non Residential Roll Nominee Application(PDF, 261KB)

All applications must be received by 6pm (EST) Monday 25 October 2021.

For more information on the non-residential roll, please read the Non Residential Rolls Fact Sheet(PDF, 71KB).

Keep up to date on the 2021 elections by monitoring the NSW Electoral Commission website and the release of their Election Bulletins. This Bulletins are aimed at candidates, parties, lobbyists and third party campaigners and provides political participants and local councils with key information about the 2021 elections. The Bulletin also highlights the series of candidate webinars. As the name suggests, these webinars have been designed specifically for candidates for the upcoming December 2021 ordinary elections.

If you are interested in becoming a candidate, visit the NSW Electoral Commission website page Six steps to being a candidate which sets out the process on how to be a candidate at the upcoming 2021 elections.

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.

For more information on how to become a Councillor please see the Office of Local Government website.

Please note the following important dates should you nominate to be a Councillor at Willoughby City Council:

Note:

• Willoughby City Council meetings are scheduled on the second Monday of every month at 7:00pm in the Council Chambers to discuss and make decisions about issued that affect the local community.
• Willoughby City Council holds Councillor Briefings on the first and third Monday of every month from 6:00pm to brief councillors on business to be considered at the meeting or a future meeting and any other matters. 

Thinking of becoming a Councillor or Mayor?

If you’re considering nominating as a candidate for the NSW Local Government elections for 2021 on Saturday 4 December, here’s general guidance about the process of nominating and candidates’ obligations and responsibilities.

Prospective candidates should seek their own independent legal advice if they are unsure whether they are eligible to run for Willoughby City Council or how the law applies to their specific circumstances.

Nominate as a Mayor or Councillor

To nominate as a Mayor or Councillor you must lodge a nomination form. This can be processed via the Electoral Commission’s online nomination form.                                                                                                                                 

Nominating incorporates the following:

• Part A – Candidate details
• Part B – Nominator details
• Part C - Candidate information sheet
• Part D – Statistical information sheet and
• A nomination deposit.

Grouping of Councillor candidates on the ballot paper

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 listed above, these candidates must also lodge a Request to form a group form.

Nomination deposit

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.

If using the online nominations system, the deposit must be paid by either MasterCard or VISA. If using paper nomination forms, the nomination deposit must be paid by bank or building society cheque.

Start your nomination now

The NSW Electoral Commission’s online nominations system is now available at elections.nsw.gov.au

You can start the process of nominating online now.

Alternatively, paper nomination forms are available by calling the Commission’s candidate helpdesk on 1300 022 011.

Lodge your nomination

Nominations can be lodged online from Monday 26 July and close 12 noon, Wednesday 4 August 2021. Late nominations will not be accepted.

Registration for electoral funding purposes

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 the electoral expenditure.

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

Applications for electoral funding purposes close on Wednesday 4 August 2021.

From 5 August 2021, all nominated candidates will be deemed to be registered and all will take on significant legal obligations for record-keeping and making disclosures. Even already-registered candidates who decide not to nominate will have some ongoing electoral funding law obligations.

To learn more visit elections.nsw.gov.au/funding-and-disclosure. Enquiries about being registered and the laws that apply to political donations and electoral expenditure should be sent to fdc@elections.nsw.gov.au

Candidate Handbook and webinars

There’s a Candidate Handbook and educational webinars which assist candidates in navigating the process.

Ballot paper draw

A draw to determine the order of groups (where applicable) and candidate names on the ballot paper will be conducted at 10am Thursday 5 August 2021. For further information, visit the NSW Electoral Commission.

The ballot paper draw may be observed in person by candidates, representatives of registered political parties and the media, subject to the capacity of the Returning Officer’s office and COVID-19 safety measures. Attendees will be required to register their attendance via the Service NSW app and to comply with physical distancing requirements. Attendees will be required to wear a face mask.

For further information:

• Visit elections.nsw.gov.au
• Email the candidate helpdesk candidates@elections.nsw.gov.au
• Call the candidate helpdesk 1300 022 011.

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.