Council Elections

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In South Australia council elections are conducted by postal ballot every four years. 

Overview

Participating in your local council election is one of the most direct ways you can make a difference to everyday life in your community.

You can influence what happens in your local community in two ways:

• by voting for a candidate who represents your views
• by nominating for a position on Council. 

Unlike State and Federal elections, it is not compulsory to vote in South Australian council elections. All voting is done by post and enrolled voters receive a voting package through the mail and return their votes in a reply-paid envelope.

For all information about the council elections, visit: Local Government Association Council Elections

Key dates

Key dates in relation to the upcoming local governments election will be published here when confirmed by the Electoral Commission of South Australia.

Enrol to vote

For all information about council elections and how to vote, visit: Council Elections

If you are on the South Australian electoral roll, you are entitled to participate in your council elections.

Being registered on the South Australian electoral roll also enables you to enrol on a council’s voters roll if you are a non-resident owner/occupier; the sole owner/occupier business; a landlord or joint owner/occupier. Council elections are open to a broader range of people than state elections.

You must be enrolled to be eligible to vote in the council elections.

To check your current electoral enrolment, visit: AEC: Check my Enrolment

For eligibility and enrolment information, visit: Council Elections

Not on the State Electoral Roll?

Persons not on the State Electoral Roll wishing to vote in the Council Election must submit a written enrolment.

There are three different enrolment forms, one for each of the following categories:

• Form 1 — Natural Person: Non-Resident, Sole Owner or Sole Occupier (tenant)
  For a non-resident owner/occupier who owns property in the Council area; is the only owner/occupier (tenant) and does not live or occupy that property.

• Form 2 — Body Corporate: Sole Owner or Sole Occupier (tenant)
  For sole business owners or sole occupiers who occupy any type of rateable property in a council area and on the assessment record at the Council.
  
  
• Form 3 — Groups Owners or Occupiers (tenants)
  For residents whose property is jointly owned or occupied by businesses, individual persons or a combination of both.

Supplementary Roll Forms can be submitted:

By post:

Chief Executive Officer
PO Box 204
Kent Town SA 5071

By email: councilelections@npsp.sa.gov.au

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Nominate for Council

You can make a difference to everyday life in your community by nominating for Council either for the position of Mayor or Ward Councillor.

For more information about nominating, visit: Council Elections

Click on the shaded boxes below to view information on the Council’s updated Ward structure and access candidate training resources for the elections.

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Vote in council elections

All voting in council Elections is conducted by post.

Enrolled voters receive a voting package through the mail and return their completed ballot paper in the reply paid envelope provided.

For more information about voting, visit: Council Elections