If you’re considering running in a House of Assembly (State) election, it’s important to understand who can nominate, how the process works, and what’s involved after you submit your nomination.
To nominate for a House of Assembly election, you must be enrolled (or eligible to enrol) for a division in Tasmania. You also need to have lived in Tasmania for either five years at any time in your life or for the two years immediately before you nominate.
Some people cannot nominate. You're ineligible if you are currently a member of the Legislative Council, a candidate in another division where the election is still underway, or a member of the Commonwealth Parliament.
Full eligibility requirements are outlined in the Candidate Handbook (see below).
There are three ways you can stand as a candidate in a House of Assembly election:
Every candidate must complete a nomination form, sign a declaration confirming they're eligible to run, pay a $400 deposit, and provide the name they wish to appear on the ballot paper. This name must reflect how you're commonly known.
Nominations open when the writ for the election is issued and close at 12 noon on nomination day.
Forms and detailed instructions are made available at the time of each election. You must lodge your completed nomination and deposit with the returning officer for your division, or with the Electoral Commissioner if you are lodging a party nomination.
We strongly recommend lodging your nomination early in the nomination period. This allows time to correct any issues if needed.
The current edition of the Candidate Handbook was published for the 2025 State election and remains current until the next State election. It provides instructions, timelines and rules for a House of Assembly election campaign.
All House of Assembly candidates have obligations under the Electoral Disclosure and Funding Act 2023.
These obligations include:
The disclosure of electoral expenditure is made once for an election – after the election campaign period has ended. The disclosure of political donations is made monthly throughout the year, within 7 days during election campaign periods, and in total after an election campaign period has ended.
Eligible House of Assembly candidates may claim for funding from the Election Campaigns Fund.
Learn more about the electoral disclosure and funding obligations of House of Assembly candidates by watching this pre-recorded webinar.
A candidate or intending candidate must register with the Tasmanian Electoral Commission before they can accept political donations or pay for electoral expenditure in relation to a House of Assembly election. This may occur well before a candidate nominates, if they have started campaigning prior to the nomination period for an election.
Registration and nomination are two different processes for candidates. Nomination is the process by which a person applies to become a candidate for an election under the Electoral Act 2004. Registration is the process by which a candidate or intending candidate meets their obligation to register and begin making campaign financial disclosures under the Electoral Disclosure and Funding Act 2023.
To register as either an endorsed or independent House of Assembly candidate, use the Application to register a candidate form. Candidates are required to register for each election or by-election in which they intend to stand.
If an intending candidate has not incurred electoral expenditure or accepted political donations before nominating as a candidate, the Tasmanian Electoral Commission will register the candidate as part of their nomination.
Candidates must notify the Commission within 30 days of any of their registered details changing – for example, moving to a new address. To update the Register of Candidates, use the Change of registration details form.
All independent candidates must register an official agent, who will be the person responsible for the financial disclosure obligations of the candidate. If an independent candidate chooses not to register an official agent, they will become their own official agent by default. To register an official agent, use the Application to register an official agent form. The Tasmanian Electoral Commission encourages candidates to register their agent at the same time that they register as a candidate.
Candidates endorsed by a registered political party are not required to register an agent, as their endorser’s party agent will also act for any candidates endorsed by the party in disclosure and funding matters.