Compulsory by-elections by postal ballot are currently underway to fill the vacancies of mayor and one councillor on the Dorset Council. This follows the resignation of Mayor Greg Howard.
Two recounts were conducted to fill councillor vacancies on the Dorset Council, created by the resignations of Councillor Jerrod Nichols on 23 January and Councillor Dale Jessup on 24 January 2025.
The TEC wrote to candidates not elected at the 2022 Dorset Council election, inviting them to participate. The period of consent closed at 12 noon on Tuesday 11 February 2025.
As ballot papers for the ordinary election of councillors had been data entered, computer-calculated results were available not long after the close.
Jan Hughes was elected at the Nichols recount and Wendy McLennan was elected at the Jessup recount, both to serve as councillors until the 2026 ordinary elections. An abstract of the Nichols recount can be viewed here, and the Jessup recount can be viewed here.
Three additional recounts were conducted to fill vacancies created by the resignation of Councillors Anna Coxen (4 February), Beth Donoghue (5 February), and Leonie Stein (6 February 2025).
The TEC wrote to candidates on 12 February and the period of consent closed at 12 noon on Thursday 20 February 2025. Results were available shortly after. Recounts were conducted in the order resignations were received.
Nick Bicanic was elected at the Coxen recount, Vincent Teichmann was elected at the Donoghue recount and James Cashion was elected unopposed at the Stein recount. All will serve as councillors until the 2026 ordinary elections. An abstract of the Coxen recount can be viewed here, the Donoghue recount can be viewed here.
By-elections and recounts held to fill local government vacancies.
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.
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.
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.
A statewide map displaying the boundaries of the 29 Local Government municipal areas.
Results and information about Tasmanian local government elections, dating back to 1994.
Uniquely, Tasmanian Local Government elections are conducted by postal ballot - election material (including the ballot paper) is personally mailed directly to each elector.
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 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: