After turning out to the polls in September last year to decide the councillors representing the city and towns for the next four years, we’ll be expected to do it again.

Our duty to participate in our democracy shouldn’t be considered a burden, but the state government is putting that to the test with its lack of action.

Lithgow’s mayor Stephen Lesslie has said council isn’t “playing games” and simply wants to get on with the job.

Unfortunately, their hands are tied.

They can’t hold a vote until the Minister for Local Government Gabrielle Upton signs off on a suggested date.

It’s not just Lithgow City Council waiting on a date, the NSW Electoral Commission can’t begin the process of the byelection until an announcement.

The first suggested date was March 18, but today, it could be April 1 or even April 8.

Thanks to legislation, every day that declaration is delayed, the vote gets pushed further out into the year.

At this stage, voting in April may be an inevitability.

While some councils faced the uncertainty of forced mergers, Lithgow’s acting general manager Andrew Muir will be in a similar situation simply because there’s little chance a permanent replacement can be decided soon.

The mayor has said a shortlist of candidates, let alone a permanent appointment, won’t be made until the council has its full nine members.

That’s an intolerable situation during these days of working to ensure a council is financially fit for the future, as well as delivering services the community needs and wants.

It’s also ridiculous to expect someone to put their career and life on hold as we wait for the state government, through the office of local government, to approve a date for a vote.

A byelection for two councillors may not compare to other issues Ms Upton has to face in her portfolio – including plebiscites and the potential of unwinding merged councils – she must act.

If she fails to act quickly and declare a date for this byelection, it will impact the future of the city.

Lithgow’s representatives need to get back to working for our future.