Keeping your vote private and secure

To vote in local government elections, electors are required to:

place their completed ballot papers in the special declaration envelope provided,
seal the declaration envelope,
sign their name in the signature box,
place the declaration envelope in the reply-paid envelope, and
then post the reply-paid envelope to the returning officer or place it in the TEC ballot box at your local council.

How can the process be secret if my details are shown on the declaration envelope?

The reply-paid envelopes are security envelopes so no one can see the elector's name through them.
While the elector's details and signature are included on a perforated flap on the declaration envelope, the flap is removed from the still-sealed envelope on the day it is received - once the elector has been marked off the roll and the signature checked. This also ensures that electors only vote once.
Both the sealed envelopes and separated declaration slips are stored separately and securely. An audit process is maintained throughout, to ensure all sealed envelopes and declaration slips are accounted for.
At 2 pm on the day the poll closes, the sealed envelopes are taken to counting rooms where they are cut open. The process of extracting and counting ballots is observed by scrutineers, appointed by candidates, who can raise issues of concern with the returning officer.
The declaration slips are kept in storage with the returning officer and are returned to the TEC (along with all other election material) for secure storage until the end of the election appeal period.

What happens to my details and signature after the election?

Following the conclusion of an appeal period, all election material that is not subject to a court challenge is securely destroyed. People who did not vote are contacted six to eight weeks after the election and data showing which electors have voted is stored securely for this purpose. At the end of the non-voter process this data is deidentified so that general election statistics can still be generated.

Related information

Local government areas

Map of Tasmania's local government (municipal) boundaries.

Map [PDF, 2.0MB]

Who represents you?

A search tool to learn who currently represents you at each level of government.
(opens in new tab)

Learn more

Previous polls

A record of past elector polls.

Learn more

Media releases