2024 New South Wales Local Elections
The 2024 New South Wales local elections were held on 14 September 2024. These elections were conducted to elect the councils of 127 out of the 128 local government areas (LGAs) in New South Wales, Australia. The New South Wales Electoral Commission (NSWEC) was responsible for conducting elections for 125 councils, while the private Australian Election Company conducted elections for Fairfield and Liverpool. No election was held for the Central Darling LGA as it was under administration.
Voting System
Similar to state elections, the local elections employed optional preferential voting. This system allows voters to cast a vote for one candidate or group, with the option to rank other candidates by preference. The majority of mayors are elected by councillors during council meetings. However, in 2024, 37 mayors were directly elected, which was an increase from 35 in the 2021 New South Wales local elections.
Voter Participation
Voting is compulsory for anyone registered on the New South Wales state electoral roll. Additionally, property owners, rate-paying occupiers, or lessees can apply to be on the "non-residential roll" in an LGA, provided they are not already enrolled as residents in that area and are eligible to be enrolled for state and federal elections.
Context and Recent Developments
On 26 April 2024, Ron Hoenig, the Minister for Local Government, announced an investigation into the Liverpool City Council amid ongoing reports of dysfunction and staff issues within the council.
Historical Context
Local elections in New South Wales are held every four years. The 2021 elections had notable issues, such as the crash of the online voting system, which led to a re-run in 2022. Historical election data includes the 1977, 2008, and 1995 New South Wales local elections, reflecting the evolutionary nature of voting practices and administrative challenges in the state.