Mayoral election referendum

Published on 14 February 2024

Kiama Council is providing our community the opportunity to directly elect their Mayor.

Council will be asking voters at this year's local government elections in September, whether in future they want a popularly elected Mayor.

Currently, our Mayor is elected every two years by our nine councillors.

Our councillors have now resolved to hold a referendum at the local government elections asking people:

Do you want to change to the direct (popular) election of the Mayor by the voters of the Kiama Municipality, for a four (4) year term?

Voters simply have to write 'yes' or 'no'.

Voting in referendums is compulsory as is voting in local government elections. 

This question will be on a separate ballot paper and the outcome will be binding on Council.

If approved, the change would come into effect for the local government elections in September 2028. 

The number of councillors would remain at nine with candidates nominating for Mayor and Councillor or just Councillor.

This would not affect the election of our Deputy Mayor, who is elected by their fellow councillors every two years.

Kiama Council will run an information campaign about the referendum in the lead up to the local government elections.