Local government elections 2026
In 2026, elections will be conducted in all 29 of Tasmania's local government areas. This includes the election of councillors, a mayor and a deputy mayor for each council to serve a four-year term of office.
Local government elections are conducted by postal ballot and voting is compulsory for all electors on the State roll.
Recent legislative amendments changed the number of councillors to be elected in many local government areas and introduced a Telephone Assisted Voting (TAV) service for electors who are interstate or overseas, or have a print disability.
Nominations open
Enrolment closes
Nominations close*
Nominations announced
Ballot packs delivered by post
Close of poll
Counting commences
* Nominations to fill King Island and Tasman councillor vacancies closed at 12 noon, Monday 28 September.
Across Tasmania’s 29 councils, 441 candidates are contesting 213 councillor positions, with 258 also standing for mayor or deputy mayor. Candidate lists and candidate statements are available online for each council.
Voting in these elections is by postal ballot. There are no polling places or pre-poll voting centres.
Ballot packs are now being delivered by post. Your pack will include your ballot papers, instructions on how to complete and return your vote and information about candidates.
If you’ll be interstate or overseas, or you have a print disability, the Telephone Assisted Voting service will be available during the polling period.
If you’ll be away from your enrolled address when ballot packs are delivered, you can request a supplementary postal ballot pack now to be sent to another address.
You can also find council locations to collect a replacement ballot pack or return your completed ballot pack in person.
Follow our step-by-step guide to complete and return your postal ballot papers, available in 11 language versions.
View the guide
Learn about the 2026 local government elections with an Easy Read guide you can read online, listen to, download or view as plain text.
Open the Easy Read guide
This A3 poster provides a quick overview of what you’re voting for, how to complete your ballot papers and what local councils do.
Download the quick guide (PDF)
Answers to some common questions about voting, enrolment, campaigning and working at elections.
View FAQs
Explore short articles about how councils work, how local representatives are elected and how Tasmania’s statewide local government elections are run.
Explore the learning hub
Explore key dates, postal voting and the role of local government in this short, self-guided slide deck for classrooms and community groups.
Download the slide deck (PDF)Visit our community information kit for resources and materials you can share with your community.
Information is available to support candidates and provide guidance on the rules that must be followed during the election period.
You’ll find the candidate handbook, nomination details, and requirements for submitting candidate statements and photographs.
Rolls for these local government elections closed at 6pm Thursday 10 September 2026. If you have moved recently, or other details have changed, you can still update your enrolment for future elections.
Everyone on the State roll is automatically enrolled and required to vote in local government elections.
People who own or occupy land in a municipal area, or are the nominated representatives of a corporate body that owns or occupies land in that municipal area, may also be eligible to vote if they have enrolled with the General Manager of their council by the above date.
Candidates, printers, publishers and broadcasters are required to submit an electoral advertising return to the TEC, reporting particulars of election-related advertising.
This information must be returned no later than 45 days after the day on which the certificate of election is issued.
Further information is available for candidates, printers, publishers and broadcasters.