Five minute guide to the 2023 NSW state election

NSW is just over a month away from heading to the polls, but before you can eat your democracy sausage, there are a few things you need to know.

NSW will head to the polls in just over a month, but before you enjoy your democracy sausage, there are a few things you need to know.

Premier Dominic Perrottet has his work cut out to remain the state’s leader with Labor Leader Chris Minns favoured to win in what is one of the tightest races in a decade.

Mr Perrottet suffered a blow to his image when he admitted in January that he wore a Nazi uniform to his 21st birthday party in 2003.

A Roy Morgan poll released on Tuesday showed Mr Minns and Labor enjoy a slim lead on 52 per cent of the two-party preferred vote.

Labor is down three percentage points since December.

It’s not an election without a sausage sizzle. Picture: Tim Hunter.

Voters will be asked to elect their local representative on March 25 across 93 state electoral districts.

Voters in each district will elect one person to represent their district in the Legislative Assembly.

Voters will also elect 21 of the 42 members of the Legislative Council.

In August 2021, the 93 electoral districts in NSW were redistributed to ensure the number of eligible voters in each district does not vary by more than 10 per cent from the average enrolment across all electoral districts.

The redistribution comes into effect for the 2023 NSW state election.

Have you registered to vote?

The NSW Electoral Commission has urged the public to enrol ahead of the state election, with over 100,000first-timers now eligible to vote but not yet on the electoral roll.

They reminded the public that enrolling to vote is compulsory for those who are eligible and 18 years or older.

The commission’s NSW Electoral Commissioner, John Schmidt, said that it was easy to enrol, update details or check enrolment status online.

“With a state election coming up, we want as many people as possible enrolled correctly and ready to have their say,” he said.

He also encouraged anyone who had recently moved to check and update their enrolment.

“All you need to enrol is a driver’s licence, an Australian passport number, or have someone who is enrolled confirm your identity,” he added.

Over 100,000 people in NSW have yet to enrol. Picture: Tim Hunter.

Dates to remember

• November 2, 2022: Expressions of interest for working at the election open.

• January 16, 2023: Postal vote applications open.

• February 13, 2023: Half-yearly political donation disclosures due for period ending December 31, 2022.

• February 27, 2023: Nominations open at 8am.

• March 3, 2023: Legislative Assembly expires.

• March 6, 2023: Roll preparation for confirming candidates, nominators, and authorised roll printing, Regulated election period commences.

• March 8, 2023: Close of nominations and close of registration of candidates and groups at 12 noon. Registration of electoral material commences.

• March 9, 2023: Announcement of candidates and conduct of ballot draw at 10am. Online system for registration of electoral materials is available.

• March 13, 2023: Registered electoral material available on NSW Electoral Commission website at 8am.

• March 17, 2023: Registration of electoral material closes at 5pm.

• March 18, 2023: Early voting period opens. Close of registration period for third-party campaigners.

•March 20, 2023: Postal vote applications close.

• March 24, 2023: Declared facility voting period closes. Early voting period closes.

• March 25, 2023: Election day from 8am to 6pm.

• April 6, 2023: Receipt of postal votes closes at 6pm.

• April 14, 2023: Estimated completion of Legislative Assembly declaration of results (Don’t worry. You’ll probably have a good idea who’s in charge on election night).

• April 20, 2023: Estimated completion of Legislative Council declaration of results.

• August 11, 2023: Half-yearly political donation and annual major political donor disclosures due for period ending June 30, 2023.

Where do I vote?

The NSW Electoral Commission has released in-person early voting centre and election day voting centre locations on its website.

You can use an online address lookup tool to find your nearest polling station, determine your state district and access information about voting centres near you.

Postal voting opened on January 16 and voters wishing to vote by post can apply for a postal ballot at the NSW Electoral Commission website.