NSW council elections postponed amid COVID-19 crisis

NSW Local Government elections have been postponed by a further three months, as Greater Sydney battles to contain the worsening COVID-19 outbreak.

The election will now take place on Saturday 4 December.

This is the second time the election has been delayed, with the four year term originally set to expire in September 2020.

Announcing the new date, Local Government Minister Shelley Hancock said the decision to postpone the election for a second time had been made to ensure the safety and wellbeing of the state’s communities, voters, polling staff and candidates.

Nominations for candidates to contest the poll will now open on Monday 25 October. The electoral roll, including the non-residential roll, will also remain open until this date.

Councillors elected in December 2021 will serve a reduced term of 2 years and 8 months, with subsequent elections expected to remain on schedule. This means the next election will proceed as planned in September 2024.