The Governor of NSW formally commences
the election process by issuing writs to the
NSWEC. The Governor issues one writ for each
Legislative Assembly district and a single writ
for the Legislative Council election.
The writs name the key dates for the
election, which are:
- the close of the electoral roll (the day
of the issue of writs)
- the close of nominations for candidates
who want to stand for Parliament. This date
is specified in the writ and is generally 3
to 4 days from the issue of the writ.
- election day
- the return of the writs (no later than 60
days from the issue of the writ)
For more information go to www.elections.nsw.gov.au
or call 1300 135 736.
Enrolment
In order to vote at the NSW 2007 State
General election you must be on the Electoral
Roll. You must be on the electoral roll by 6pm
on the day of the issue of the writs. The date
of the close of rolls is not confirmed however,
it is expected to be early March 2007.
Since the last election many people will have
moved house and therefore need to update their
enrolment.
We've sent every enrolled voter a card with
their current details in the mail so if you
haven't received this your details may be
incorrect.
Checking your details is very easy - you can
either visit our website at www.elections.nsw.gov.au
or call the NSWEC on 1300 135 736.
What are the
qualifications for enrolment?
- are an Australian Citizen and
- are 17 years of age or older (but you
cannot vote until you are 18) and
- have lived at your present address for at
least the last month.
If you are 18 years or older and qualify for
enrolment you must enrol.
How do I
enrol?
To enrol you need to complete an Electoral
Enrolment Form. The Electoral Enrolment Form is
a green form available from:
Can I enrol
online?
You cannot enrol online under electoral
legislation.
What if I can not sign
the form?
If you are unable to sign the enrolment form
because of a physical disability, you need to
obtain a doctor's certificate to show that you
cannot sign your name and ask a member of your
family or a friend to sign on your behalf.
Options for Voting at
the 2007 State General Election
There are numerous voting options available
to all electors at the March 2007 State General
Election.
Voting
before Election Day
Anyone who can't make it to a polling
place on Saturday 24 March can vote before
election day at pre-poll voting centres to
cast a pre-poll vote.
If you can't make it in person you can
also use a postal vote.
A full list of pre-poll voting centres,
are available from our website at www.elections.nsw.gov.au
or call the NSWEC on 1300 135 736.
You can pick up a postal vote application
from any Australia Post office or visit our
website at www.elections.nsw.gov.au
or call 1300 135 736.
Pre-poll
Voting
From Monday, 12 March 2007
Until Friday, 23 March 2007
You can vote before election day if
you:
- won't be in NSW during the hours of
polling (8am to 6pm) on election day
- will be travelling under conditions
which will prevent you from voting at any
polling place during the hours of polling
(8am to 6pm) on election day
- will not be within 8 kilometres of any
polling place open on election day during
the hours of polling (8am to 6pm)
- are caring for a person in any of
these conditions
- are a member of a religious order or
have religious beliefs which prevent you
from attending a polling place or voting
during the hours of polling (8am to 6pm)
on election day
- will be working during the hours of
polling (8am to 6pm) on election day and
won't be able to attend at a polling place
to vote
Where can I
pre-poll vote?
Pre-Poll voting is available at the office
of any Returning Officer during normal office
hours from the close of nominations (early
March) for the election until 6 p.m. on the
day before election day. Other pre-poll
voting centres (for example, at airports) may
also be opened and details will be published
in March 2007 in the newspapers, on the NSWEC
website (www.elections.nsw.gov.au)
or enquires can be made to the New South
Wales Electoral Commission call centre on
1300 135 736.
Partnership with
the Spastic Centre
In addition, for the first time
at the March 2007 State General election,
as part of the NSWEC's Equal Access to
Democracy Plan, the following Spastic
Centre location will be available for the
whole community as pre-poll centre for
voting before election day.
Spastic Centre location: McLeod House -
189 Allambie Road, Allambie Heights
2100
How do I
vote?
To vote pre-poll you need to complete an
application form at the pre-poll centre. You
are then issued with the ballot papers which
must be completed in the office. The ballot
papers are then enclosed in a declaration
envelope which you must sign.
Pre-Poll Voting
(Declared Institutions)
The Electoral Commission can nominate
institutions such as hospitals and retirement
homes "Declared Institutions", allowing them
to become a pre-poll voting centre.
These are polling places for the
convenience of residents and patients only
and are visited only on the Monday, Tuesday
or Wednesday preceding election day. Patients
vote as ordinary or absentee voters depending
on their residential address found on the
electoral roll.
For information about Declared
Institutions please call 1300 135 736.
Postal
Voting
To vote as a postal voter you must
complete a postal vote application form and
return it to your Returning Officer so that
it can be processed and checked against the
electoral roll.
You can apply for
a postal vote if you:
- won't be in NSW during the hours of
polling (8am to 6pm) on election day
- will be travelling under conditions
which will prevent you from voting at any
polling place during the hours of polling
(8am to 6pm) on election day
- will not be within 8 kilometres of any
polling place open on election day during
the hours of polling (8am to 6pm)
- are sick, infirm or approaching
maternity or are caring for a person in
any of these conditions
- are a member of a religious order or
have religious beliefs which prevent you
from attending a polling place or voting
during the hours of polling (8am to 6pm)
on election day
- are being kept in a prison and are
precluded from attending at any polling
place to vote
- will be working during the hours of
polling (8am to 6pm) on election day and
won't be able to attend at a polling place
to vote
Where can I get a
postal vote application?
Applications for postal votes are
available from Post Offices (as soon as the
election is announced), the New South Wales
Electoral Commission or any Returning
Officer's Office. If you need to vote by
post, make sure you have your application in
early so that voting material can be sent to
you before election day.
Postal vote application forms must be
received by your Returning Officer by the
Monday before election day if sent from
outside New South Wales or on the Wednesday
before election day if sent from within New
South Wales.
What happens to
my postal vote application?
Once your application has been received
and processed you will be sent postal vote
ballot papers and a declaration envelope for
their return.
When do postal
votes need to be received by the Returning
Officer?
Postal votes must be received by the
Returning Officer by the last mail on 28
March 2007 in order for them to be admitted
to the count so get your postal votes in as
early as possible.
Interstate and
overseas
If you are going interstate or overseas at
the time of an election check our website at
www.elections.nsw.gov.au or call the NSWEC on
1300 135 736 because there are opportunities
to vote in person before you go. You can also
vote at interstate or overseas locations
while you are away.
For a list of interstate and overseas
voting locations go to www.elections.nsw.gov.au
or call 1300 135 736.
Voting on election day
- Saturday, 24 March 2007
On election day 24 March 2007, electors will
vote for a representative of the Legislative
Assembly and for a group of candidates in the
Legislative Council. There are two ballot papers
to complete, one small and one large.
To assist electors with a disability and
electors from culturally and linguistically
diverse backgrounds all polling places will
have:
- wheelchair accessible voting screens
- luminous contrast design on election
signage and furniture
- hand held magnifiers
- chunky pencils
- "how to vote" guides available in 24
languages
Can I ask for
assistance?
At all polling places on election day,
election officials are also available to support
any electors who may require assistance. The
polling official can assist in a variety of ways
including reading "How to Vote" materials,
reading the instructions or candidates on the
ballot papers or, under the elector's
instruction, marking the elector's ballot
paper.
Alternatively, if someone requires
assistance, a person nominated by the elector
can perform any of the above tasks.
Polling
Places
Information on all polling places, including
their accessibility status, will be available on
the NSWEC website at www.elections.nsw.gov.au.
Alternatively, electors can call the Customer
Inquiry Line on 1300 135 736 for information
8.30am to 6pm Monday to Friday.
Polling places will also be advertised in The
Land newspaper on Thursday, 15 March 2007 and in
the Sun Herald and the Sunday Telegraph
newspapers on Sunday, 18 March 2007.
Partnerships with
Vision Australia and the Spastic
Centre
Selected Vision Australia and Spatic
Centre premises will be available at as
polling places for the whole community. These
centres include:
Vision Australia location:
- Enfield Centre 4 Mitchell Street ,
Enfield 2136
Spastic Centre locations:
- Prairiewood Centre - 224-244
Restwell Road, Prairiewood NSW
2176
- Skillseekers Community Access - 74
Agincourt Road, Marsfield NSW 2122
- Spastic Centre Ryde - 3a Smalls
Road, Ryde NSW 1683
- St Ives Community Access Service -
6 Stanley Street, St Ives NSW 2075
Disability Awareness
Training Sessions
The NSWEC conducted a series of training
sessions for Senior Election Officials who will
work as Returning Officers at the 2007 General
election. As a part of this training Mr Nicholas
Gleeson from Vision Australia provided valuable
advice on disability awareness and how to
approach and offer assistance to electors with a
disability.
The Senior Election Official training manuals
have also been updated to provide information to
election officials on different types of
disabilities and guidelines on improving access
at polling places.
Important Election
Dates and Times
Election Day
8am to 6pm, Saturday, 24 March
2007
Pre-poll Voting
From Monday, 12 March 2007
Until Friday, 23 March 2007
Postal
Voting
Application forms must be
received by:
6pm, Monday, 19 March 2007 (for
overseas electors)
6pm, Wednesday 21 March 2007 (for
interstate & NSW electors)
Postal Vote
Ballot papers must be received
by:
Last mail, Wednesday 28 March
2007
Polling
Places
For information: Call 1300 135 736
(cost of a local call)
Go to the NSWEC website - www.elections.nsw.gov.au
Polling places will
be advertised in:
The Land - Thursday, 15 March
2007
The Sun Herald - Sunday, 18 March 2007
The Sunday Telegraph - Sunday, 18 March
2007
For further
information
NSWEC Website: www.elections.nsw.gov.au
NSWEC Call Centre: 1300 135 736
Translating Service: 13 14 50
TTY for speech and hearing impaired: (02) 9153
0205
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