Your Council » Council Elections   The next Council Election is due to be held on Saturday 8 September 2012. Voting in Local Government Elections is compulsory. Council is one of 15 NSW councils that have elected to conduct the 2012 election independent of the State Electoral Commision who previously conducted the elections. Council decided to take this step as it, like all councils, was concerned about the spiraling costs being charged by the Commision. Council anticipates that savings of approximatley 25% will be achieved. Mr Tony Bounader has been appointed as Returning Officer for the election by the General Manager, and Council has engaged the Australian Electoral Company to provide training and support to him. Mr Bounader will commence duties in July,2012. In the iterim, for all enquiries please contact the Manager Governance, 02 9911 3525. If you need to enrol to vote you can download an enrollment or pick one up from a post office or an Australian Electoral Commission office. The rolls for the Council election will close 30 July 2012 at 6.00pm. Working at the Council Election Council will require a large number of casual staff to work on election day. Staff who have previously worked at previous Federal or State Electoral Commision run elections will not be automatically contacted as the Commision will not release the names to Council. If you would like to register your interest, please contact the Manager Governance, 02 9911 3525.   Candidate Information Candidate information seminars are being conducted across the State. A seminar will be held on Thursday, 7 June 2012 from 5pm - 8pm in The Cove Room, Lane Cove Civic Centre, 48 Longueville Road, Lane Cove. To register and view dates of other seminars, visit the Electoral Funding Authority's website. The Department of Local Government has prepared a publication "Becoming a Councillor", which gives an overview of local government in NSW and outlines what a councillor’s role is, what support is available for councillors and how to nominate as a candidate for local government election. All local government candidates have obligations under the Election Funding, Expenditure and Disclosures Act 1981 (the Act). The Funding and Disclosure Guide - Local Government Councillors and their Official Agents is now available from the Electoral Funding Authority. The guide provides local government councillors and their official agents information about their obligations under the Act Election Timetable 30 July 2012 - Close of Authorised Roll (6.00pm) - Nominations open 8 August 2012 - Close of Nominations (12.00 noon) - Registration of Electoral Material (how-to-vote) opens 27 August 2012 Pre-poll voting commences 31 August 2012 Registration of how-to-vote closes (5.00pm) 3 September 2012 Postal Vote Applications close (5.00pm) 7 September 2012 Pre-poll voting closes (6.00pm) 8 September 2012 Election Day 10 September 2012 Return of Postal Votes closes (6.00pm)       Check where you are enrolled Ward Map "Becoming a Councillor" publication Funding and Disclosure Guide - Local Government Councillors and their Official Agents