New South Wales Consolidated Acts

LOCAL GOVERNMENT ACT 1993 - SECT 296A

296A Elections administered by an electoral services provider

(1) This section applies to an election administered by an electoral services provider engaged by a council.

(2) The electoral services provider is to appoint a returning officer and a substitute returning officer for the election. In the absence of the returning officer, the substitute returning officer is to exercise the functions of the returning officer.

(3) The returning officer is to appoint one or more electoral officials.

(4) An employee of a council for an area cannot be appointed as a returning officer or substitute returning officer for that area. However, an electoral official may be an employee of the council.

(5) A general manager cannot be appointed as a returning officer, substitute returning officer or electoral official for any area.

(6) For the purpose of conducting an election, the returning officer and substitute returning officer for an area are entitled to access to any relevant records of the council for the area.

(7) For the purpose of administering an election, the electoral services provider is to--

(a) appoint the polling places, and

(b) determine the fees payable to the returning officer, substitute returning officer and electoral officials.

(8) For the purpose of conducting an election, the returning officer is to determine any matter not provided for by this Act or the regulations.

(9) Expenses incurred by the returning officer, substitute returning officer and electoral officials in connection with an election are to be met by the council.

(10) The returning officer and the substitute returning officer must not vote at any election that they are conducting.