The NSW Electoral Commission is requesting $12.6 million in the upcoming state budget to cover cybersecurity maintenance and an additional $8.3 million to upgrade essential IT systems before the 2027 election.
Focus on Cybersecurity Maintenance
The commission previously received funding through the Digital Restart Fund to improve its cybersecurity. That funding helped resolve urgent issues across 50 critical electoral systems. Now, the commission aims to maintain those improvements with ongoing financial support. The proposed operating cost over five years is estimated at $12.6 million.
Request to Redirect Unused Funds
Alongside the cybersecurity funding, the commission is asking for approval to repurpose $8.3 million from unspent local government election funds. These funds would go toward maintaining aging legacy systems that will play a key role in the 2027 state election.
Key systems that need attention include:
- The vote counting platform
- The nominations system
- Ballot paper production tools
- Election staffing management
- Online funding and disclosure systems
The commission believes upgrading these tools is necessary to ensure smooth operations during the next major election.
Past Funding Efforts Fell Short
Previous attempts to secure funding for these system upgrades were unsuccessful. However, with the next election approaching, the commission is prioritizing essential maintenance and seeking more flexible use of existing funds.
If new funding becomes available, the commission plans to implement limited digital enhancements. These include ballot scanning and electronic check-ins for voters on election day. The latter was recently tested during the Port Macquarie by-election.
Major Improvements Delayed
Larger digital upgrades, such as implementing single sign-on for candidate systems and exploring the use of AI to improve compliance and service delivery, are on hold. These changes are unlikely to roll out before 2031 or 2032.