2027 Local Government Elections

Elections Overview

Council Members are elected by the community every four years, with the next periodic election scheduled for April 2027.

Local government elections provide an important opportunity for residents to choose representatives who will make decisions on behalf of the community and help shape the future of the area.

To participate, you must be enrolled to vote. All voting is conducted by post through the Electoral Commission of South Australia (ECSA). Eligible voters will receive a voting pack by mail and are required to return their completed ballot using the reply-paid envelope provided.

For information on how to enrol, please visit the ECSA website.

Council elections are governed by the Local Government (Elections) Act 1999 (SA).

Key Election Dates

Enrol to vote in the Council Elections

Eligibility

You are eligible to enrol and vote if you:

• Are an Australian Citizen, or a British Subject who was enrolled on 25 January 1984*
• Are 18 years or older, and
• have lived at your address for at least one month

For first time voters

There are three different forms you can use to enrol to vote in Council elections.

• Form 1 - Natural Person: For a non-resident owner/occupier who owns property in the Council area; is the only owner/occupier (tenant) and does not live or occupy that property.
• Form 2 - Body Corporate: For sole business owners or sole occupiers who occupy any type of rateable property in a Council area and on the assessment record at the Council.
• Form 3 - Group Owners/Occupiers: For residents whose property is jointly owned or occupied by businesses, individual persons or a combination of both.

Copies of the forms can be found here:

• Form 1 - Natural person
• Form 2 - Body Corporate
• Form 3 - Group Owners/ Occupiers

Form 1 – Eligibility for Natural Person: Non-Resident, Sole Owner/ Sole Occupier who is of the age of 18 or over and is a:

1. Sole Owner - A sole owner is a person who:

• is a State elector
• owns property in the Council area; and
• is the only owner of the relevant property.

or

2. Sole Occupier - A sole occupier is a person who:

• is a State elector
• occupies property in the Council area as a tenant; and
• does not live in that property (a non- resident occupier/operates a business).

Form 2 - Eligibility by a Business or Organisation (i.e. a body corporate) which is either:

1. Sole Owner - A body corporate sole owner is an individual business or organisation that owns any type of rateable property in the Council area.

or

2. Sole Occupier - A body corporate sole occupier is an individual business or organisation that occupies any type of rateable property in the Council area as a tenant.

Form 3 – Eligibility by a Group Owners or Group Occupiers

1. Group Owner - When a rateable property is owned by more than one owner the right to vote belongs to the group of owners (group owner) not to each member of the group. The individual members who make up the group owner can be:

• businesses or organisations (bodies corporate); or
• individual people (natural persons); or
• a combination of businesses, organisations and people (bodies corporate and natural persons).

or

2. Group Occupier - When a rateable property is occupied by more than one occupier/tenant the right to vote belongs to the group of occupiers/tenants (group occupier) and not to each member of the group. The individual members who make up the group occupier can be:

• businesses or organisations (bodies corporate); or
• individual people (natural persons); or
• a combination of businesses, organisations and people (bodies corporate and natural persons)

Applications for Bodies Corporate and Groups of Persons Must include a designated person who is a State elector, to be enrolled on the voters roll for an area or ward.

A natural person who is above the age of 18 and who is an officer of the body corporate or group and authorised to act on behalf of the body corporate or group for the purposes of voting.

Note that a State elector is a person who is enrolled as an elector for the House of Assembly on a roll for a subdivision under the Electoral Act 1985

Voters Roll

The voters roll for Council elections is made up of two parts:

• 1. The State (House of Assembly) electoral roll, and;
• 2. The Council's supplementary voters roll.

If you are on the State Electoral Roll, you will automatically be on the Council Voters Roll for your residence.

You can enrol for the State Electoral Roll via the Australian Electoral Commission Website.

However, you may still be eligible to be on the Council Voters Roll if you are:

• On the State Electoral Roll in South Australia, and;
• A non-resident sole owner (a landlord of a rateable property), or non-resident occupier (tenant) within the Council area
• An owner or occupier of an organisation or business within the Council area.
• Group of owners or occupiers, of a rateable property.

In accordance with Section 15(5a) of the Local Government (Elections) Act 1999, Council must purge the Council's voters roll on 1 January of every election year. Therefore, all landlords, organisations, business owners or occupiers, must re-enrol from January 1 of every election year to be eligible to vote, with the exception of the City of Adelaide.

Clause 3 Schedule 1 of the Bill states that the expiry of the voters roll on 1 January 2026 has effect for the purposes of the 2027 periodic elections and does not expire 1 January 2027.

Any person, body corporate or group enrolled on the voters roll pursuant to an application after 1 January 2026 remains on the roll for the purposes of the 2027 periodic elections.

If you are unsure whether you are enrolled on the Council's voters roll, please contact Council.

Nominate for Council

Council members are responsible for delivering a wide range of services that support the liveability and wellbeing of the local community, including libraries, parks, playgrounds, recreational facilities and waste and recycling services.

Becoming a Council member provides an opportunity to help shape policies and decisions that influence both the immediate needs and long-term future of the community, while representing the interests and priorities of residents.

The role offers the chance to build strong connections within the community, develop leadership and governance skills, and gain valuable experience in public decision-making.

Further information about Council candidates and nominations can be found on the ECSA Website and the LGA Council Elections Website.

2027 Local Government Elections - Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

1.When will the next Council elections be held?

Council members are elected every four years. The next periodic election is scheduled for April 2027.

2. Why are Council elections important?

Council elections allow residents to choose representatives who make decisions on behalf of the community, helping to shape local policies, services, and the long term future of the District.

3. How do i vote in the Council elections?

Voting is conducted entirely by post. Eligible voters will receive a voting pack in the mail. Complete the ballot and return it using the reply-paid envelope provided. You must be enrolled to vote to receive a voting pack.

4. How often are Council elections held?

Council elections are held every four years

5. Can I still vote if I don't live in the Council area?

Yes, you may still be eligible is you are:

• A non-resident property owner (landlord)
• A  non-resident occupier (tenant)
• An owner or occupier of a business in the area
• Part of a group of owners or occupiers of a rateable property

6. Do I need to re-enrol for Council elections?

Yes, under Section 15(5a) of the Act, certain voters (such as landlords, businesses , and organisations) must re-enroll from 1 January in every election year.

Clause 3 Schedule 1 of the Bill states that the expiry of the voters roll on 1 January 2026 has effect for the purposes of the 2027 periodic elections and does not expire 1 January 2027.

Any person, body corporate or group enrolled on the voters roll pursuant to an application after 1 January 2026 remains on the roll for the purposes of the 2027 periodic elections.

7. What if in unsure if I am enrolled?

You should contact Council to confirm your enrolment status.

8. Who conducts the elections?

Elections are conducted by the Electoral Commission of South Australia.

9. When will i receive my ballot pack?

Ballot packs will be mailed between 15 October and 21 October 2026 to your elected address.

10. Who can become a Council candidate?

Any eligible person who nominates before the deadline can stand for election.

11. How do i update my enrolment?

You can check or update your enrolment for the State Electoral Roll online via the ECSA website, or by contacting Council for the supplementary roll.