Enrol to Vote as a Non-Resident
Register before 6pm, on 5 August 2024 to be eligible to vote in the September local government elections.
If you have the right to vote in federal or state elections, you also have the right to be enrolled as an elector at a local government election in the ward or council area you live in.
When you enrol to vote, you will automatically be included on the residential roll for the ward or council area you live in. You must vote in local government elections in the ward or council area you live in.
Here are the key things you will need to know if you’re interested or considering voting as a non-resident:
Eligibility Criteria
There are two categories of eligibility to vote as a non-resident:
- You are an owner of rateable land within the Cessnock Local Government Area, and or
- You are an occupier or rate-paying lessee of rateable land in the Cessnock Local Government Area.
One Vote Per Area
You can only vote once within a council area, regardless of whether you are registered on the Non-Residential Roll. For example;
- You can only be enrolled to vote in one ward within a council area even if your company own, occupy or lease rateable lands in more than one ward.
- You can only have one vote within a council area even if you or your company own, occupy or lease multiple rateable lands within that area.
Enrolments on behalf of Corporations
Eligible corporations can also enrol to vote in the non-residential roll for September local government election. A corporation is entitled to nominate a person to appear on the roll on behalf of the corporation.
Which Form Should I complete?
Please refer to the below, to identify which situation best describes you:
Form A – Non-Resident claim for Individual owner, Occupier and Ratepaying Lessee
The applicant must be an individual who is:
- Enrolled on the NSW or Federal Electoral Rolls with an enrolled address outside of the Cessnock Local Government Area,
AND
- The sole owner, occupier or ratepaying lessee of a rateable property in the Cessnock Local Government Area, who:
- Owns the rateable property as an individual; or
- Has the right to occupy the rateable property for at least 3 years from the application date; or
- Has a documented liability to contribute to any rates use on the rateable property for at least 3 years from the application date.
Form B – Non-Resident claim for nomination of an elector by joint/several, corporate or trustee owners, occupiers or ratepaying lessees
The nominee must be enrolled on the NSW or Federal Electoral Rolls with an enrolled address outside of the Cessnock Local Government Area.
The person making this claim must represent:
- A corporation, trust or lessee of Crown land that owns, occupies or pays rates on a Cessnock Local Area rateable property; or
- A group of individuals and / or corporations and / or trusts and / or Crown land Lessees that owns, occupies or pays rates on a Cessnock Local Area rateable property.
Where:
- an owner pays rates on the rateable property
- an occupier has the right to occupy the rateable property for at least 3 years from the application date
- a rate-paying lessee has a documented liability to contribute to any rates due on the rateable property for at least 3 years from the application date.
What You Need to Complete These Forms
To complete either of the below forms, please note you will require the following:
- Information pertaining to the related property (Lot and DP numbers),
- Rates assessment number(s) (where applicable),
- Understanding of the applicable Ward in which you’re enrolling, and
- A witness present who can provide both their name and signature to verify your submission.
Enrolment Forms