As residents get ready to head to the polls, we answer all your questions about the Local Government Election and what it means for Parramatta and Cumberland.
What is the Local Government Election?
Held every four years, the Local Government Election sees voters in each Local Government Area (LGA) elect Councillors to their local Council.
An equal number of Councillors are elected for each ward for a four-year term. At the last election, a total of 15 Councillors were elected for both City of Parramatta and Cumberland Council.
It is compulsory to vote in the Local Government Election.
When is the Local Government Election?
The Local Government Election will take place on Saturday, September 14. Pre-poll voting is available up until Friday, September 13 for eligible electors.
Where do I vote?
Residents must vote at a venue that is located within their Council Ward. For example, if you live in Telopea, Dundas or Oatlands you fall in the Dundas Ward and can vote at venues including, but not limited to, Telopea Public School, Dundas Public School and Oatlands Public School.
City of Parramatta is divided into five wards: Dundas, Epping, North Rocks, Parramatta and Rosehill.
Cumberland City Council is also split into five wards: Granville, Greystanes, Regents Park, South Granville and Wentworthville.
If you are unsure which ward you live in or want to see the full list of venues you can vote at, visit http://www.elections.nsw.gov.au.
Who do I have to vote for?
Voters only have to elect Councillors for the ward they live in. To see our full breakdown of the candidates who are seeking your vote, head to http://www.parranews.com.au.
Unlike some other Councils in NSW, residents in Parramatta and Cumberland won’t have to vote on who they want for Mayor.
How does the voting process work?
Residents will have two options on their ballot paper: voting above the line or below the line.
If voting above the line, voters must place a number ‘1’ in one of the group voting squares above the thick horizontal line on the ballot paper. By doing this you are voting for that whole group of candidates in the order they are listed below that square, starting from the top. This is all you need to do.
However, if you want to show more choices you can also add consecutive numbers starting with ‘2’ above the line next to your second preference, and so on.
If you choose to vote above the line, do not put numbers in any squares below the line.
Residents typically decide to vote below the line if they want to vote for candidates within a group or from different groups in the order of their choice, or if they want to vote for a mixture of grouped and ungrouped candidates.
For those who decide to vote below the line, you must place at least the number of preferences indicated in the ‘Directions for Voting’ on the ballot paper – this will be at least half the number to be elected, rounded up.
For example, if there are three candidates to be elected, you must vote for at least two.
Similarly, a voter’s first preference is indicated by placing a ‘1’ in the square next to the candidate of your choice, your second preference a ‘2’, your third preference a ‘3’ and so on.
If you vote below the line, do not put numbers in any squares above the line.
Where can I get a democracy sausage?
The most important question – according to the Democracy Sausage website, residents can expect to find a sausage sizzle at Oatlands Public School, Telopea Public School, Northmead Public School, Epping West Public School, Epping Public School and North Rocks Public School.
Ellie Busby is a news reporter for Western Sydney Publishing Group. A graduate of the University of Hertfordshire and Western Sydney University, she is a journalism Major. Ellie has worked with Universal Media, The Cova Project and for a range of other organisations. In 2024, Ellie was named Young Writer of the Year at the Mumbrella Publish Awards.