Non-residential rolls
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Enrol to vote as a non-resident property owner, occupier or rate-paying lessee
Legislation changes
From October 2023, non-residents must apply if they wish to be on the non-resident roll. Eligible non-resident voters of the City of Sydney are not enrolled unless they make a claim to be enrolled.
Important points
- Non-residents must apply to be added to the non-residential rolls
- Voting as a non-resident is voluntary
- Voting entitlement is a maximum of one vote in every council area
Non-residential rolls for each City of Sydney election will be prepared and certified by our Chief Executive Officer. At close of rolls for each election these rolls must be confirmed by the NSW Electoral Commissioner to ensure that the voters listed are eligible for enrolment on the non-residential rolls.
Do I need to apply to be on the non-resident roll for every election?
If you’ve applied since October 2023 under the new legislation and were confirmed as being on the 2024 non-residential roll, we’ll check to see if your eligibility remains unchanged when rolls close for future elections.
If there are no changes in your circumstances and we’re satisfied that you’re still qualified for inclusion on the roll, we’ll automatically add you to our next non-residential roll.
If we’re unsure of your entitlement or that you’re still qualified for inclusion on the roll, we’ll let you know if you need to make a new claim for enrolment before the next election.
Non-resident eligibility and entitlement
You, or your corporation’s or trust’s nominee, are eligible to vote in City of Sydney elections as a non-resident if you:
- own, occupy or pay rates on rateable land in the City of Sydney area and
- are enrolled to vote in Australia and are not enrolled to vote as a resident of the City of Sydney.
Entitlement is limited to one owner, one occupier and one rate-paying lessee per rateable property.
If you own, occupy or lease as a corporation, trust, lessee of Crown land or part of a group you need to nominate someone to vote on your behalf.
You are entitled as a non-resident owner if you:
- own a rateable property in the City of Sydney area, excluding parking lots in strata plans.
You are entitled as a non-resident occupier if you:
- occupy a rateable property in the City of Sydney area, excluding parking lots in strata plans and
- have the right to occupy that property continuously for at least three years from your application date.
You are entitled as a non-resident rate-paying lessee if you:
- have a documented liability to pay a contribution to rates for a rateable property in the City of Sydney area, excluding parking lots in strata plans and
- this liability is for rates due over the next 3 years from your application date.
You can only vote once for the City of Sydney, even if you or your company own, occupy or lease multiple rateable properties within the City of Sydney.
If you’re on a non-residential roll you don't have to vote. You will not receive a fine if you don’t vote.
Making a claim for inclusion on the non-resident rolls
To make a claim for inclusion on the City of Sydney’s non-residential rolls you need to submit a claim form. You must be eligible to vote at federal or state elections.
The information supplied for the elector must match their enrolment details. You can check your enrolment details online or call the Australian Electoral Commission on 13 23 26.
A claim must be signed by the person who lodges it and must contain a statement signed by a witness to the effect that the witness saw the person sign the claim and believes, to the best of the witness’s knowledge, that the statements in the claim are true.
Which claim form do I use?
Non-resident claim for individual owner, occupier or ratepaying lesseePDF · 24.36 KB · Last modified
The land that I own, occupy or lease has no other owners, occupiers or lessees and I am not acting on behalf of a corporation or trust.
Non-resident claim with nomination of an electorPDF · 24.43 KB · Last modified
The land that I own, occupy or lease has one or more other owners, occupiers or lessees. (Land with multiple owners, occupiers or lessees requires the elector to be nominated to vote on behalf of all the owners, occupiers or lessees.)
Non-resident claim with nomination of an electorPDF · 24.43 KB · Last modified
I am acting on behalf of a corporation or trust.
