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.
Election facts
- Next ordinary election
- Saturday 9 September 2028
- Last election
- 14 September 2024
- How often
- Every 4 years (the second Saturday of September)
- How Walgett votes
- Undivided (no wards); 9 councillors by proportional representationVoters across the whole LGA elect all nine councillors; the councillors then elect the Mayor and Deputy Mayor from among themselves. At the 2024 election, 9 councillors were elected from 13 candidates, 3,795 electors were enrolled and 2,562 ballot papers were cast. Polling places were at Burren Junction, Collarenebri, Cumborah, Lightning Ridge and Walgett.
- Voting
- Compulsory for enrolled residentsNot voting can result in a fine.
- Non-residential roll
- Owners and ratepayers who don't live in the shire may be eligibleIf you own, occupy or pay rates on property in the LGA but live elsewhere, you may be able to enrol on the non-residential roll — contact Council. The residential roll is checked through the AEC.
- Enrol / check enrolment
- NSW Electoral Commission
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.