Usually, the NSW state election is held on the fourth Saturday in March after a government has served a four-year term.
It would place the next election on March 27, which is Easter Saturday in 2027.
To bring forward the election date, the Constitution Act 1902 (NSW) permits the Governor to dissolve the Legislative Assembly up to two months before the end of its fixed four-year term if the election would otherwise clash with a public holiday.
The proposal to bring forward the polling day by two weeks to avoid an Easter clash is informed by consultation with the Opposition and the NSW Electoral Commission.
The Special Minister of State John Graham announced the government’s intentions last week.
The 2027 election is the first time the election has fallen on the Easter weekend since four-year term parliaments were approved by NSW electors at a referendum in 1995.
“Bringing the election forward two weeks is a common-sense move,” Mr Graham said.
“With so many people away on holiday, asking voters to get to polling booths over the Easter long weekend would create a logistical challenge for voters, but also a significant operational challenge for the NSW Electoral Commission in conducting the election.
“There is no politics in this decision, it is a simple matter of reviewing where dates fall and what is a feasible and legal solution to working around the Easter break and public holiday period.”
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