As local government elections draw closer, find out all about how and where to vote early in the Hunter.
Whether voters live more than eight kilometres away from a voting centre, are working or travelling on the day, pre-polling offers an alternative to election day on Saturday, September 14.
Pre-polling booths open across NSW from this Saturday, September 7. Most are open every day until Friday September 13, except for Sunday, September 8.
In the last state election, more than a million people in NSW voted at pre-polling, with 15,963 early votes in the Newcastle electorate.
Like state and federal elections, voting for local government is compulsory, and the penalty for failing to do so in NSW is a $55 fine.
There is no absentee voting in council elections, and people must vote at a venue in their enrolled council area.
Reasons for pre-polling
At pre-polling voting centres, you will be asked to verbally declare the reason you are voting early.
Reasons include:
- Will be outside your ward or council area on election day
- Will be more than 8 km from a voting centre (polling place) in your ward or council area on election day
- Will be travelling and unable to attend a voting centre on election day
- Are seriously ill or infirm, and due to such illness or infirmity will be unable to attend a voting centre
- Are approaching maternity
- Have religious membership or beliefs that prevent you from attending a voting centre on election day
- Are in a correctional centre and prevented from attending a voting centre on election day
- Are caring for a person outside of a hospital setting, which prevents you from attending a voting centre on election day
- Will be working on election day
- Are a silent elector
- Are a person with a disability
- Believe that attending a voting centre on election day will place your personal safety or the safety of your family at risk.
Where to vote
Newcastle City Council
Ward 1 to 4
Open: Saturday 9am to 6pm, Monday-Wednesday 8.30am to 5.30pm, Thursday 8.30am to 8pm and Friday 8.30am to 6pm.
- Adamstown Senior Citizen Centre, 153A Brunker Road
- Fletcher Community Centre, 55 Kurraka Drive
- New Lambton Uniting Church, 48 Regent Street
- Newcastle City Hall, Banquet Room, Ground Floor, 290 King Street
- St Andrews Anglican Church Mayfield, 31A Church Street, Mayfield
- St Augustine's Anglican Church, 37 Winsor Street, Merewether (closed on Saturday 7)
- Wallsend Library, 30 Bunn Street
Lake Macquarie City Council
East, North and West Ward
Open: Saturday 9am to 6pm, Monday- Wednesday 8.30am to 5.30pm, Thursday 8.30am to 8pm and Friday 8.30am to 6pm.
- Belmont Scout Hall, 52 Ernest Street
- Charlestown Pre-Poll, Shops 6 & 7, Hilltop Plaza, 324 Charlestown Road
- Cooranbong Community Centre, 614 Freemans Drive (closed on Saturday 7)
- Pasterfield Sports Complex, 18 Horizon Avenue, Cameron Park
- Speers Point Masonic Hall, 81 Lakeview Street
- Swansea Centre Meeting Rooms, 228 Pacific Highway
- Toronto Uniting Church, 118 The Boulevarde
- Wallsend Library, 30 Bunn Street
Maitland City Council
Ward 1 to 4
Open: Saturday 9am to 6pm, Monday- Wednesday 8.30am to 5.30pm, Thursday 8.30am to 8pm, Friday 8.30am to 6pm.
- Grace Community Church Thornton, 34 Government Road
- Maitland Church of Christ, 1 Garnett Road, East Maitland
- Maitland City Corps Rutherford, 1 Compton Street
- Maitland Returning Officer's Office, 263 High Street
Muswellbrook Shire Council
Open: Saturday 9am to 6pm, Monday- Wednesday 8.30am to 5.30pm, Thursday 8.30am to 8pm, Friday 8.30am to 6pm.
- Denman Memorial Hall, 30 Ogilvie Street
- Stan Thiess Memorial Centre, Victoria Park, Hill Street, Muswellbrook
Dungog Shire Council
Ward A to C
Open: Saturday 9am to 6pm, Monday- Wednesday 8.30am to 5.30pm, Thursday 8.30am to 8pm, Friday 8.30am to 6pm.
- Doug Walters Pavilion, 40 MacKay Street, Dungog
Cessnock City Council
Ward A to D
Open: Saturday 9am to 6pm, Monday- Wednesday 8.30am to 5.30pm, Thursday 8.30am to 8pm, Friday 8.30am to 6pm.
- Branxton Community Hall, 35 Bowen Street
- Cessnock Returning Officer's Office, Shops 7 & 9, 195 Wollombi Road
- Kurri Kurri Senior Citizens Hall, 132 Barton Street
Port Stephens council
Central, East and West Ward
Open: Saturday 9am to 6pm, Monday- Wednesday 8.30am to 5.30pm, Thursday 8.30am to 8pm, Friday 8.30am to 6pm.
- All Saints Anglican Church Nelson Bay, 25 Church Street
- Raymond Terrace Community Church, 10 Richardson Road
For more information visit: elections.nsw.gov.au/elections/find-my-electorate
