Legislative Council elections 2024


Legislative Council election tagline - Your division. Your vote. Your voice.

Frequently asked questions

The questions and answers provided below will be regularly updated during the 2024 Glenorchy City Council and Sorell Council by-elections (and elector poll).

Voting


Enrolment


Campaigning, posters and signs

  • What are the rules around placement of posters and signs?

    Apart from certain restrictions on advertising on polling day and within 100 metres of a polling place, the placement of posters and signs does not fall within the jurisdiction of the Tasmanian Electoral Commission.

    However, many Tasmanian councils have specific planning schemes and by-laws regulating the placement and size of election posters. Candidates are advised to check with their relevant councils prior to erecting posters and any complaints over size and placement of signs should also be directed towards the relevant councils.

    Permission to display posters on private property must always be obtained from the owner of the land concerned.

    Before placing posters on public property (e.g. fences or trees) it is advisable to obtain permission from the responsible bodies such as local government (individual councils), the Department of State Growth, etc.

  • Is it an offence to place electoral matter on electricity poles?

    It is an offence under section 109(1)(a) of the Electricity Supply Industry Act 1995 to attach anything to a power pole without proper authority.

    The penalty for an offence under this section is a fine not exceeding 50 penalty units for an individual or 100 penalty units for a body corporate.

    Queries or complaints related to material being attached to electricity power poles should be directed to TasNetworks.

  • Is it an offence to display electoral roadside signs and electronic billboards?

    The Department of State Growth has produced the Tasmanian Roadside Signs Manual (June 2015). The manual contains the following information in relation to electoral signs:

    The erection or display of electoral advertising signs within State and Local Government Roads is prohibited. The provisions of Local Authority Planning Schemes and Bylaws make adequate provision for such advertising.

    It is also an offence under section 78(1) of the Traffic Act 1925 for a person to:

    1. place or leave an electronic billboard on a public street; or
    2. place or leave an electronic billboard in a public place if any occupant of any motor vehicle on any public street can, with the naked eye, read any words or make out any images being displayed by the electronic billboard.

    Penalty: Fine not exceeding 20 penalty units.

    Queries or complaints related to roadside signs or electronic billboards should be directed to the Department of State Growth.


Results

  • When will we know who has been elected?

    First preferences will be counted immediately after the close of polling at 6 pm on Saturday 4 May 2024. Provisional results will be available on election night and will be published on this website. Rechecks and further counting then take place while we wait for the arrival of final postal votes by 10 am on Tuesday 14 May. It may be possible for the Returning Officer and Commissioner to declare a candidate elected, if they are satisfied that any votes not yet counted could not affect the results of the election. At the close of receipt of postal votes, first preference tallies are updated and if a candidate has not yet been elected, a distribution of preferences can begin, which is usually completed that day.

  • How are the votes counted?

    The partial preferential voting system is used to elect one member to a division of the Tasmanian Legislative Council (Upper House).

    For a candidate to be elected, they must obtain an absolute majority of votes, which is more than one half of the total number of formal votes (less exhausted votes).

    Learn more about the method of counting  

  • Why does the media announce results before the TEC?

    The TEC does not declare a candidate to be elected until it has been confirmed that they have received an absolute majority of votes with an unassailable lead. Before this can be confirmed, a process of counting, rechecking (twice) and distributing preferences (if required) must take place.

    Members of the media may use available data to make predictions and report on a likely outcome at any stage of an election, but this is not an official result.


Employment



If your question isn't answed here, email ballot.box@tec.tas.gov.au or call the TEC on 1800 801 701.

Related information

Divisions

Profiles and maps of the five divisions.

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Who represents you?

A search tool to learn who currently represents you at each level of government.
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Previous elections

Results of previous elections and recounts.
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Media releases

Latest news from the TEC.

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