Local government elections in Tasmania are conducted by post.

This means there is a 'polling period' rather than one polling day, as there is for state parliamentary elections. Every elector receives their own postal ballot pack at their enrolled address. You then have around three weeks to complete and post your vote back to the returning officer for your council.

Your ballot pack

During the polling period, keep an eye on your letterbox for your ballot pack, which will look similar to this.

Your ballot pack contains:

ballot paper(s)
a booklet containing candidate statements and voting instructions
a ballot paper envelope (this envelope must be signed by the elector to ensure ballot security), and
a reply paid envelope for returning your ballot paper envelope which contains your completed ballot paper (voting won’t even cost a stamp)

The story of your ballot pack

1

Preparation

Following the announcement of candidates, postal ballot packs are prepared, printed and packed ready for posting . This step usually takes about a week.

2

Delivery

All electors will receive postal ballot packs in their letterboxes. Delivery usually takes a full week to be completed. Contact us if you don't receive yours.

3

Vote and post back

Electors usually have two to three weeks to complete their ballot paper and return it so that it can be included in the count. Check the timetable for every election to see when polls close.

How to complete and return your postal ballot

Mark your preferences on the ballot paper(s). The instruction booklet will make it clear if there is more than one.
Put the completed ballot paper(s) into the declaration envelope (the one with your name printed on it) and seal it.
Sign the declaration envelope in the box next to your name.
Place the sealed declaration envelope into the reply paid envelope and seal it.
Post the reply paid envelope (no stamp required) or place it in the ballot box at your local council.

Tip: Post early to allow for mail delivery times. Your ballot paper must be received before the close of polling to be included in the count.

'Ballot of Power'

Watch this animation about postal voting in Tasmanian local government elections.

Keeping your vote private and secure

Your ballot paper is always kept separate from your name. At no time are they seen together.

Before we receive it, you place your ballot paper in the declaration envelope and seal it. That envelope goes inside a reply paid security envelope, so your name cannot be seen through it.

When it arrives, we mark you off the roll and check your signature. We then remove the perforated flap that has your name and signature, while the declaration envelope remains sealed. This prevents anyone voting more than once and keeps your identity separate from your ballot.

While it’s stored, sealed envelopes and the detached declaration slips are kept separately and securely, with a full audit trail to account for every item.

When counting begins, after polling closes, sealed declaration envelopes are taken to counting rooms and opened under supervision. Ballots are extracted and counted in front of scrutineers (candidate representatives), who can raise any concerns with the returning officer.

After the election, declaration slips stay with the returning officer and are returned to the TEC for secure storage until the end of the election appeal period.

What happens to my ballot materials 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.