Council elections are held every four years. All councillors serve a four-year term until the next statewide local government elections.
Why are council elections important?
Local councils make decisions about services and infrastructure that affect everyday life like roads, rubbish collection, planning and parks. Councillors are elected to represent the interests of the community. Voting ensures these important local decisions are made by people with community support.
Voting for councillors, mayor, and deputy mayor
When you receive your postal ballot papers for a council election, you will be voting in separate contests at the same time.
One part of your ballot is for electing the councillors for your municipal area. Separate parts of your ballot are for the direct election of the mayor and the deputy mayor.
To be elected as a mayor or deputy mayor, a candidate must be successful in both contests. This means they must win the popular vote for the leadership position and also win a seat as a councillor.
The voting process
The Tasmanian Electoral Commission is responsible for the entire election process, including managing voter enrolment, candidate nominations and the counting of votes.
To vote, you must be correctly enrolled in your local council area. You are eligible if you are:
- on the state electoral roll
- a non-resident property owner, occupier or business operator enrolled via the general manager’s roll.
Voting is compulsory for all electors on the state roll.
Election results
The results of past council elections are at the Tasmanian Electoral Commission website.
