What happens at local government elections – Introduction
Introduction | Calling the election | Polling period | After polling
Local government in Tasmania
Local government is the third tier of government in Australia. 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.
The Local Government Act 1993 requires council elections be conducted by full postal ballot every two years. All 29 councils have vacancies for half the number of councillors at each biennial election.
Over 350,000 people are eligible to vote in the 2009 local government elections.
Full postal ballots
Full postal ballots are different from attendance ballots used for Tasmanian and federal elections. Attendance ballot voters need to either attend a polling place on polling day, or make special arrangements to complete a pre-poll or postal vote.
When an election is by full postal ballot, election material (including the ballot paper) is personally mailed directly to each elector. The elector then has a brief period of time to complete her/his ballot paper before returning their vote in the post (as a postal vote).
Who is elected at local government elections?
As at 30 March 2009, there are 142 councillor positions up for election as well as 4 casual vacancies. A casual vacancy occurs when a councillor whose term is not due to expire has retired, been removed from office or died in the period since the last local government elections.
Mayor and deputy mayor positions are up for election at every biennial election, as they are only elected for a two-year term.
Go to Nominating as a candidate for details on who is eligible to stand for councillor, mayor or deputy mayor positions.
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