1974 New South Wales local elections

Like at state elections, New South Wales local elections use optional preferential voting.^[6] The majority of mayors are elected by councillors at council meetings, although some are directly-elected.^[7]

Unlike at state and federal elections, voting was not compulsory.^[8][9] This was the first time 18-year-olds were able to vote at New South Wales local elections, after the Whitlam federal government lowered the voting age from 21 in 1973.^[10][11] This was also final time voting was optional, with compulsory voting reintroduced in 1977.^[12][13]