Local Government Elections

Councils have a significant impact on the lives of all Tasmanians, enabling the economic, social and cultural development of the community, supporting individuals and groups, and providing a wide range of services for the wellbeing of the community.

Councillors play a vital leadership role, working together to create and implement their community’s vision, strategic direction and the values within which they operate.

Mayors, Deputy Mayors and Councillors are all elected for four-year terms. Mayors and Deputy Mayors are popularly elected.

The latest Clarence City Council elections were held in October 2022, and the next elections will be held on October 2026.

Voting in the local government elections is now compulsory. More information can be found on the Tasmanian Electoral Commission website.  

The Tasmanian Electoral Commission is responsible for the supervision of local government elections. This includes the production of ballot papers, approval of forms and procedures, the appointment of returning officers, public awareness and statutory advertising of election dates, nomination periods, etc. The person in charge of running an election is called the Returning Officer. They are appointed by the Electoral Commissioner to administer matters concerning the election.

Voting system

Council elections are conducted by postal ballot. All elections for Councillor positions are required to be conducted using a multi-member proportional representation electoral system. This is directly modelled on the Hare-Clark system used for Tasmanian House of Assembly elections.

A feature of the Hare-Clark electoral system is that vacant seats are filled by recount rather than by-elections. Under the postal ballot system there is a “polling period” of at least 10 days (excluding any Saturday, Sunday or bank holiday), rather than a single polling day.

Resources for candidates

The Candidate Information Booklet from the Tasmanian Electoral Commission (TEC) is an important reference for intending candidates. If you would like a hard copy, copies are available from the TEC office, 169 Main Road, Moonah. Alternatively, call the TEC on 1800 801 701 and they will post one to you.

Eligibility to vote

Anyone who is enrolled for House of Assembly elections is eligible to vote.

Others who can register to vote by completing a form available from Clarence City Council are:

  • Residents who are not on the State Electoral Roll (for instance non-Australian citizens).
  • Non-resident owners or occupiers of property in the Clarence municipal area.
  • The nominee of a corporate body.

Completed Enrolment Forms together with supporting documentation showing residency in the municipal area, where applicable, should be returned to the Clarence City Council via:

Election Signage

The definition of an election sign in accordance with the Tasmanian Planning Scheme – Clarence is: “An election sign means an impermanent sign identifying candidates or promoting a political party for local, state or federal government elections.” 

The Scheme provides an exemption for election signage on the basis that the sign must: 

  1. Not encroach on any road or other public land. 
  2. Have a maximum area of 1.5m². 
  3. Not be erected more than eight weeks before the polling date. 
  4. Be removed within seven days after the polling date. 

In addition, signs must only be placed on private property and not on council-owned land (e.g. nature strips). A sign placed on a fence must be parallel not angled so that it is over the nature strip.  The permission of the landowner must be obtained prior to erecting any signage on private property. 

A person must not publicly display a poster, or sign, relating to the election of a candidate without the written authority of that candidate. 

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