Local government elections









Burnie City Council recount (Kons)

A recount is required to fill a councillor vacancy on the Burnie City Council, created by the resignation of Councillor Steven Kons on 25 September 2024.

The TEC has written to eligible candidates not elected at the 2022 Burnie City Council election, inviting them to participate. The period of consent closes at 12 noon on Monday 7 October 2024.

As ballot papers for the ordinary election of councillors had been data entered, a computer calculated result will be available not long after the close.








King Island by-election

A by-election was conducted by postal ballot to fill a vacancy on the King Island Council, following the resignation of Councillor Duncan McFie. 

Rowan Cooke has been elected to serve as councillor until the 2026 ordinary elections.








Meander Valley Council recount (Kelly)

A recount took place on 23 September 2024 to fill a councillor vacancy on the Meander Valley Council, created by the resignation of Councillor Michael Kelly on 10 September 2024.

The TEC wrote to candidates not elected at the 2022 Meander Valley Council election inviting them to participate. The period of consent closed at 12 noon on Monday 23 September 2024.

As ballot papers for the ordinary election of councillors had been data entered, a computer calculated result was available not long after the close.

Deborah White has been elected to serve as councillor until the 2026 ordinary elections. An abstract of the recount can be viewed here.




Vacancies

By-elections and recounts held to fill local government vacancies.

2022 Local government elections

Elections, conducted by postal ballot, were held to fill councillor, mayor and deputy mayor positions for all 29 local councils statewide.

Voting is now compulsory in local government elections.

Who can vote at a local government election?

Anyone who is enrolled on the State Roll for an address in a municipal area, is automatically enrolled for the municipal area as well.

Other people who own or occupy land in the municipal area, or are the nominated representatives of a corporate body which owns or occupies land in the municipal area, are also eligible to enrol, but must lodge an application with the General Manager.


Graphic of local government areas map

Local government is the third tier of government in Tasmania.

Tasmania is divided into 29 municipal areas, with each area having a governing council consisting of between 7 and 12 councillors. Each council is chaired by a mayor and has a deputy mayor.

Elections for Tasmania's 29 councils are conducted by full postal ballot every four years. The next Local Government elections are due to be held during September and October 2026.

Map of Tasmania's local government areas

A statewide map displaying the boundaries of the 29 Local Government municipal areas.





Local government election reports

Results and information about Tasmanian local government elections, dating back to 1994.





About voting at local government elections

Uniquely, Tasmanian Local Government elections are conducted by postal ballot - election material (including the ballot paper) is personally mailed directly to each elector.



Elector polls

A council may hold an elector poll on any issue it determines. It may also be required to hold an elector poll following a process requiring petitions signed by at least 5% or 1,000 of the electors in the municipal area. A council is not bound by the result of an elector poll.

Elector polls conducted by the TEC since the 2018 ordinary elections: