Local government elections 2026
The link to submit your candidate statement and photograph will be available on this page in September.
Candidate statements and photographs are optional and do not form part of your nomination. To become a candidate, you must complete and submit a nomination separately.
Submitting a candidate statement or photograph does not make you a candidate.
You must submit your statement and photograph using the online form by 12 noon on Monday 21 September 2026. Late submissions cannot be accepted.
You should read the Candidate statement and photograph requirements before submitting this form.
Your nomination and candidate statement are separate processes. Create a short match code using letters and/or numbers, then enter the same code on:
This helps us match your statement and photograph to your nomination.
Submit your material before 12 noon on Thursday 17 September 2026 if you want an opportunity to replace it should it not meet the requirements.
The TEC will review submitted statements and photographs against the published requirements. Where an item does not meet the requirements, we will email you within 24 hours of receiving it. You will then have 24 hours to submit a replacement.
Material submitted after 12 noon on Thursday 17 September must meet all requirements when submitted. If it does not, it will not be published.
We will use only the email address you provide on this online form. Please monitor it during the nomination period (including your junk/spam folder).
Your statement must:
The form accepts plain text only. The TEC will apply standard formatting for publication, including removing paragraph breaks, emojis and list formatting. The TEC will not otherwise correct spelling, grammar, punctuation or wording.
It is advisable to lodge your nomination form as early as possible to allow enough time to review your nomination and any problems to be resolved before nominations close.
Before pasting your statement into the online form, we recommend you proof your text using desktop or online tools, or with the assistance of a colleague, friend or family member.
Your photograph must be a recent, clear, high-resolution head-and-shoulders image of you only. It must have a plain, neutral or light-coloured background and be supplied as a JPG or PNG file.
It must not include text, logos, borders, graphics, filters, digital effects or digital zoom.
Accepted photographs will be converted to greyscale, have their background removed, and be sized and cropped consistently for publication.