With the closure of nominations yesterday (Thursday 4 November), local council candidates can now officially begin their election campaign ahead of decision day next month.

On Saturday 4 December, local government elections will be held across all Western Plains Shire Councils, aside from a select few where the number of nominees was equal to or less than the available seats.

One of these is Bourke Shire Council, which had the exact number of candidates needed to fill the 10 available seats, including a couple of new faces to replace outgoing councillors Ian Cole and John Thomson.

Narromine Shire Council will see pre-existing councillors Colin Hamilton, James Craft, Mark Munro and Robert McCutcheon depart this election period.

However, four new candidates standing this year will ensure all nine seats are filled without needing to be elected.

Cobar Shire Council will also see some new candidates coming in to help fill the 12 available seats with Peter Yench deciding not to stand again. However, only a total of 11 councillors have stood for this election, meaning they will not need to go to the polls.

The Brewarrina and Bogan Shire Councils will have to have elections next month to decide a new council, although the departure of their Mayors will mean a change in leadership is guaranteed regardless of the result.

Brewarrina Mayor Phillip O'Connor, along with councillors Bill Loughnan and Dave Wheatley, have all decided not to stand for re-election. A total of 10 nominees will now be working to claim or retain the nine available council positions.

As for Bogan Shire Council, Mayor Ray Donald and councillor Kevin Ryan will not be running for re-election, leaving 11 candidates - a mixture of new and experienced - vying for the nine seats.

A third of the Walgett Shire Council will also depart this election with Bill Murray, Kelly Smith and Tanya Cameron all deciding not to stand. With a total of 19 candidates from the shire standing for the available nine seats this election, residents will have plenty of options for councillors to replace them.

Coonamble Shire Council will see an increase in available seats this election, going from seven members to nine after a community referendum in 2019. The departure of councillor Paul Wheelhouse opens up an additional vacancy, but with a total of 17 candidates standing this year, there are many different possibilities of what the new council will look like next year.

The Warrumbungle Shire Council also has 17 candidates nominating for nine seats. Councillors Anne-Louise Capel, Fred Clancy and Wendy Hill have not nominated for re-election, meaning some new faces will get in the council next month.

Some of the shires are split into wards, with a certain number of seats allocated to each. Warren Shire Council has a total of 12 seats, three each for Wards A to D.

Despite councillors Rex Wilson, Brett Williamson and Karlene Irving all departing this election, Ward C is the only one that will not require an election, with a total of 17 candidates across all four wards.

At the other end of the spectrum, Lachlan Shire Council - which is split into Wards A to E and has two seats for each ward - will only require an election for Ward E, with a total of four candidates nominating for the two available seats. Councillor Brian Nelson is the only pre-existing Lachlan Shire councillor not to re-stand for election.

Finally, Gilgandra Shire Council will also see three current councillors not stand for re-election - Susan Baker, Deidrie Naden and Noel Wrigley - leaving 11 candidates to campaign for the nine available seats.

Across NSW, the newly elected councillors will have a three-year term instead of the traditional four years because the last term was extended due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The NSW Electoral Commission has advised there will be multiple ways to vote in an effort to prevent crowding on election day and help ensure COVID-19 restrictions are adhered to at polling booths.

"Voter safety is paramount, as is ensuring every eligible elector in NSW has a chance to have their voice heard," NSW Electoral Commissioner John Schmidt said.

“For the first time all voters are eligible to vote in person at any time during the two-week voting period when a polling place is open."

Postal votes are also an option with recent amendments to legislation giving voters a longer period in which to apply for, receive and return postal voting packs. All postal votes must be received by 6pm on Friday 17 December.