Explainer: How to vote early and safely in the COVID election

Pre-poll, iVote online and operator-assisted telephone voting will open on Monday, November 22 with voting closing December 4 at 6 pm

Election Day is December 4. Polls open at 8am and close at 6pm.

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The COVID-19 pandemic will continue to impact our lives as we head to the polls for the 2021 NSW Local Government Elections on December 4.

New laws enacted on November 1 are aimed at ensuring the residents of NSW can exercise their right to vote in a COVID safe manner and to prevent election day from turning into a super spreader event.

It is compulsory to vote in the NSW Local Government elections, so here's a rundown on the new measures and what to expect at the polling booth.

You can vote in person on election day however polling places will look a little different. Voters will be asked to bring their own pen and stay home if feeling unwell.

QR code check-in and check-out will be in place, as will the wearing of facemasks.

NSW Electoral Commission staff will also be wearing facemasks and be fully vaccinated. Physical distancing will be enforced.

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Those handing out of how-to-vote cards are also being kept at an arm's distance. Candidates and volunteers cannot hand out electoral material in or on a polling place or pre-polling office within 100 metres of a polling place or pre-polling office.

The same rules will apply for posters during this election unless the poster was displayed by the person before 7am and the display of the poster is not adjusted or altered in anyway until after 7pm.

The NSW Electoral Commission has recently made changes to the eligibility criteria for pre-poll and postal voting to make it easier for electors to vote in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic.

For these elections, you can vote in person early at a pre-poll venue, or you may be eligible to use a postal vote, or using iVote online and operator assisted telephone voting.

Pre-poll, iVote online and operator assisted telephone voting will open on November 22, while applications for postal voting have already opened with the first packs mailed out on November 8.

Applications to vote in this way don't close until 5 pm on November 29.

There will be restrictions on the number and proximity of scrutineers during this year's count.

Voting in the NSW Local Government elections is compulsory regardless if your council operates as a ward system or undivided.

Though this only applies to electors on the residential roll, electors on the non-residential roll or the roll of occupiers and ratepaying lessees may vote, but are not required to vote.

Penalties can apply for those who don't vote.

Starting at $55, the penalty can increase to $65 if referred to Revenue NSW and if you choose to have the matter heard in court, it may impose a penalty of $110 plus court costs.

Earlier this year, Minister for Local Government, Shelley Hancock, said the NSW Government had worked closely with the NSW Electoral Commission and NSW Health to implement the changes.

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"The legislation, which will only apply to the 2021 local government elections, will be used as a fail-safe to protect the health and safety of voters, candidates and election staff in accordance with advice from the NSW Electoral Commissioner," she said.

"NSW Election officials have also been empowered to enforce COVID-safe measures including social distancing at polling booths and counting venues to protect voters, candidates, scrutineers and NSW Electoral Commission workers.

"The Government will take all steps necessary to assist the NSW Electoral Commission to conduct COVID-safe council elections and ensure communities across the State can safely exercise their democratic right to vote," she said.