Elections & voting
NSW holds local government elections every four years. Voting is compulsory for enrolled residents, so it's worth knowing the date and keeping your enrolment up to date.
New to these terms? Read them in plain English
- Ward
- A subdivision of a council area that elects its own councillors.
- How the mayor is chosen
- Either elected directly by voters, or chosen by the councillors.
- Special Rate Variation (SRV)
- Permission for a council to raise rates by more than the peg.
- NSW Electoral Commission (NSWEC)
- Runs council elections and publishes the official results.
- Next ordinary election
- Saturday 9 September 2028
- Last ordinary election
- 14 September 2024
- How often
- Every 4 years (the second Saturday of September)
- How Liverpool votes
- 2 wards + directly-elected Mayor; 11 councillorsVoters elect the Mayor directly, plus five councillors for their ward (North or South).
- Most recent poll
- South Ward by-election, 18 April 2026Held to fill a mid-term vacancy; run directly by the NSW Electoral Commission.
- Voting
- Compulsory for enrolled residentsNot voting can result in a fine.
- Enrol / check enrolment
- NSW Electoral Commission
Liverpool's 2024 ordinary election was counted by a private provider (the Australian Election Company) rather than run directly by the NSW Electoral Commission, which NSW law has permitted councils to opt into since 2011. By-elections, including the 2026 South Ward poll, are run by the NSWEC.
Sources — check it yourself
Figures are current as at the dates shown and may change — always confirm with the linked source. See the notice at the bottom of the page for full details and how to report a correction.