Tweed residents will head to the polls on Saturday 4 December to elect a new council.
Voting is compulsory in local government elections, with the NSW Electoral Commission conducting the election on behalf of councils across the state.
All polling places will be run in line with the NSW Electoral Commission's COVID-safety plan, where voters will be asked to:
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wear a mask, in line with public health orders
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maintain physical distance
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check-in to the voting centre using the Service NSW app
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bring a pen to vote or one will be provided
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stay up-to-date with requirements in your area by monitoring NSW Health announcements.
Polling stations will open at 8 am on election day and close at 6 pm that night. To find your nearest polling venue, visit the NSW Electoral Commission's Find My Electorate page.
Pre-polling is also available to all voters this election, with 5 pre-polling venues already open across the Tweed. Pre-polling is open at the following venues from 9 am to 5 pm until Friday 3 December:
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NSW Electoral Commission Returning Office: Seagulls Club, Gollan Drive, Tweed Heads West
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The Hub Baptist Centre, 19/20 Corporation Circuit, Tweed Heads South
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Twin Towns Masonic Centre, 8 Boyd Street, Tweed Heads
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Canvas and Kettle Room, Murwillumbah Civic Centre, Tumbulgum Road, Murwillumbah
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Casuarina Beach Hockey Club, Barclay Drive, Casuarina
Postal voting has also been expanded for this election. Applications for postal voting have now closed with the deadline for returning completed postal votes at 6 pm on Friday 17 December. In keeping with state elections, iVote arrangements are available for limited reasons. To check your eligibility for iVote arrangements, visit the NSWEC website.
A total of 58 candidates will contest the Tweed Shire Council election, with 7 councillor roles to be filled. The candidates make up 13 grouped tickets, with 2 candidates running on their own as individuals. In keeping with the NSWEC's COVID-safe plan, the distribution of electoral material by candidates and their volunteers is restricted within 100m of polling booths, including at pre-polling places.
In practical terms, this means the volunteers supporting the various candidate teams are not able to hand out How to Vote cards at polling stations as traditionally occurs at elections. How to Vote electoral material is available on candidate posters and is registered with the NSW Electoral Commission and published on its website.
The declaration of the poll is expected to occur between 21 and 23 December, 2021, with an Extraordinary Meeting of the new Council to take place on Tuesday 11 January 2022 to elect a Mayor and Deputy Mayor.
Councillors elected in December will serve a reduced term of 2 years and 8 months after the 2020 election was postponed due to COVID-19.
