Holroyd City Council

Holroyd Council can do!

Local Government Elections

The 2008 Local Government Elections will be held on Saturday 13 September 2008.

Holroyd City Council has twelve elected Councillors. This is based on the election of three Councillors from each of Council’s four Wards - North, South, East and West. The Mayor is elected each year, from amongst the twelve Councillors. Local Government elections are held every four years.

Voting is compulsory for anyone who is over the age of 18 years and who is an Australian citizen.

The NSW Electoral Commission provide more information on the elections. All residents who qualify should register with the Australian Electoral Commission.

The Council building at 16 Memorial Avenue, Merrylands will not be used as a Polling Place on Polling Day.

The Principal Polling Place (PPP), where votes for all wards can be taken, is located at the Coolibah Fitness Centre at 25 Paton Street, Merrylands.   Please check the Electoral Commission advertisement for the location of Polling Places in the relevant wards.

Voting

Voting is compulsory for any person aged 18 or over, is an Australian citizen or has lived in the area for at least three months. It is the best way for residents to have their say in how the local area will be run, and who they wish to represent them.

People who own property in the Holroyd Local Government Area or are proprietors of a business in the Holroyd Local Government Area but do not live there are still entitled to vote in the Holroyd area. These people must complete a non-residential roll inclusion form to be allowed to vote in the Holroyd City Council Election and send it to Council by Monday 4 August.

On Election Day, Saturday, 13 September 2008, each voter visits a polling place and will be given a ballot paper listing the names of all candidates in the Election. The voter must then rank the candidates in order of preference.

A list of polling places in the Holroyd Local Government Area will be advertised during the period leading up to the Election. Polling places are open from 8am to 6pm.

Absentee Voting

There is no absentee voting, pre-arranged interstate or overseas voting for Local Government Elections.

Postal Voting

You can download an application form for a postal vote, or obtain one from Holroyd City Council’s Customer Service Centre. It must be filled and  received by the Returning Officer for Holroyd City Council no later than 5pm on Monday, 8 September 2008.

Completed postal votes must be received by the Returning Officer before 6pm on Monday, 15 September 2008.

To qualify for postal vote the elector must declare that one of the following applies:

  • will not be in the Ward or Council area during polling hours (8am to 6pm) on election day;
  • will not be within 8 kilometres of any polling place open on election day in the Ward or Council area during polling hours (8am to 6pm);
  • will be travelling under conditions which will prevent voting at any such polling place during polling hours (8am to 6pm) on election day;
  • is seriously ill or disabled and cannot attend any such polling place;
  • is prevented by approaching maternity from attending any such polling place;
  • is a member of a religious order or have religious beliefs which prevent you from attending any such polling place or voting during polling hours (8am to 6pm) on election day;
  • is in prison and are precluded from attending any such polling place to vote;
  • is at a place other than a hospital, caring for a person who requires care for medical reasons and will be prevented from attending any such polling place;
  • will be working during polling hours (8am to 6pm) on election day and will not be able to attend at a polling place to vote.

Pre-Poll Voting

Pre-polling voting will take place in the Council building from Monday 1 September to Thursday 11 September 2008 between 8am and 4:30pm and on Friday 12 September 2008 between 8am and 6pm.

Dates and hours of operation of other locations will be advertised in local newspapers, on the Electoral Commission NSW website and on Council’s website.

To qualify for a pre-poll vote the elector must declare that one of the following applies:

  • will not be in the Ward or Council area during polling hours (8am to 6pm) on election day;
  • will not be within 8 kilometres of any polling place open in the Ward or Council area on election day during polling hours (8am to 6pm);
  • will be travelling under conditions which will prevent you from voting at any such polling place during polling hours (8am to 6pm) on election day;
  • is a member of a religious order or have religious beliefs which prevent you from attending any such polling place or voting during polling hours (8am to 6pm) on election day;
  • is at a place other than a hospital, caring for a person who requires care for medical reasons and will be prevented from attending any such polling place;
  • will be working during polling hours (8am to 6pm) on election day and will not be able to attend at a polling place to vote.

How do I enrol to vote?

The Australian Electoral Commission has recently revised its form to enrol to vote which you can complete and send in. Otherwise please visit the Australian Electoral Commission or phone them on 13 23 26.

All Enrol to Vote forms must be returned to the Australian Electoral Commission by Monday, 4 August 2008.

Election of Mayor

The Mayor of Holroyd City Council for 2008 will be elected from the 12 new Councillors at the next Council Meeting after the Local Government Elections, which will be Tuesday, 16 September 2008. This is a ‘Special Council Meeting’ which will also determine the placement of Councillors on Committees of Council.

For further information about the 2008 Local Government Elections, visit the Electoral Commission NSW.

Disclosure of Political Donations

Political donations and expenditure declarations are lodged by Councillors with the Election Funding Authority of NSW and are available online.

Standing for Council Election

The first stage in a Council election is calling for nominations.

People who are allowed to vote in the Holroyd Local Government Area can stand for election. The nominee must be nominated by at least two other people in the community. This nominee is called a ‘Candidate’.

The Department of Local Government and the Local Government and Shires Association have developed a guide for people thinking of becoming a candidate.

All nominations must be registered with the Electoral Commission NSW by Wednesday 13 August 2008.

Campaigning

The second stage in a Council election is for candidates to promote themselves to the community.

Candidates explain to the community what they would do if elected to Council and how the community will benefit from them being elected to represent the community. Candidates normally campaign through local newspapers and letterbox drops, visiting prominent areas of their Ward and speaking to people of the community.

Information Booths

On 1 May 2007 Council resolved to adopt the 'Public Place (Footpath and Road) Occupation Policy – Local Government, State and Federal Elections' policy. The policy will allow elected representatives, and potential candidates, to hold information booths for the public and provide guidance for Council to assess requests that may arise in the lead up to any Federal, State and Local Government Elections.

The Policy provides that during the electoral term only elected members of State and Federal Parliament and elected members of Council may make an application for a permit. Following the issuing of writs for State and Federal Elections or the Election Day being nominated by the relevant Electoral Commission, or their nominated person, a candidate may make an application.

To ensure that the use does not impact upon our shopkeepers nor obstruct the flow of pedestrians, specific locations and times have been set. Other restrictions include the area occupied by the booth, the frequency of permits issued, the day of the week and time of the day the occupation can occur and the duration of the occupation. The sale of goods or seeking of donations will be prohibited.

Applications must be made to Council's Customer Service Centre using the Elections Public Place Occupation Form and more information can be obtained by contacting Council's Customer Service Centre on 9840 9840.

Working at Local Government Elections

People interested in working as an Election Official at the 2008 Local Government Elections should visit the Electoral Commission NSW.