Following the postponement of NSW's local government elections until 4 December, the Office for Local Government has released a set of FAQ to answer people's queries about what will happen now.

The FAQ emphasise the decision to postpone all council elections has been made in response to the escalating outbreak of the Delta variant of the COVID-19 virus in Greater Sydney and the potential for further outbreaks in regional areas, and explain why extended ivoting and postal voting wasn't possible in the time frame.

The postponement of the elections will not affect the timing of future council elections, and the subsequent ordinary local government elections will still proceed in September 2024.

The key dates for the December election are:

25 October 2021

Close of electoral rolls (6pm).

Candidate nominations open.

Commencement of the “regulated period” for the elections (for example, published electoral material must comply with authorisation rules).

26 October 2021

Postal vote application opens.

3 November 2021

Close of candidate nominations (12pm).

Registration of electoral material that is for distribution on election day commences.

4 November 2021

Ballot paper draw.

5 November 2021

Caretaker period commences.

22 November 2021

Pre-poll voting opens.

iVote commences.

26 November 2021

Registration of electoral material for distribution on election day closes (5pm).

29 November 2021

Postal vote applications close (5pm).

3 December 2021

Pre-poll voting closes.

4 December 2021

iVote applications close (1 pm).

iVote voting closes (6pm).

Election day (8am-6pm).

17 December 2021

Return of postal votes closes (6pm).

21 –23 December 2021

Results declared progressively as counts are finalised by Returning Officers.