About council elections
Council elections in South Australia are held every four years. They give local communities the opportunity to elect a Mayor and council members to represent their area and make local decisions.
Voting in council elections is voluntary.
Getting involved
You can get involved by nominating as a candidate, voting, or helping raise awareness in your community.
As a resident or business owner in a council area, you can participate in council elections and influence what happens in your local community by:
- nominating for a position on council
- voting for a candidate who represents your views.
To make sure you can vote or nominate, you must be enrolled on the state (House of Assembly) electoral roll. If you're enrolled for state elections, you'll automatically receive a ballot pack in the mail.
How council elections are run
Council elections in South Australia are conducted by the Electoral Commission of South Australia (ECSA).
Elections are managed independently to make sure they're fair, secure and transparent. And to make sure they follow relevant legislation and regulations.
There are three forms of elections held in local government:
- Periodic elections: held on a regular four-year cycle
- General elections: held under s5 of the LGEA or by proclamation or notice
- Supplementary elections: may be held if a position becomes vacant after a council is formed.
For the 2027 Council Elections, voting closes at 5:00 pm on Wednesday 7 April 2027.
Electoral system used
Council elections in South Australia use a preferential voting system. Voters rank candidates in order of preference rather than choosing just one.
Preferences are used to determine the final result if no candidate receives enough first-preference votes.
How votes are counted
After the close of voting on Wednesday 7 April 2027, the Electoral Commission of SA finalises all ballot material received and organises delivery of ballot material to each council.
Councils then start checking and counting ballots on Saturday 10 April 2027.
Votes are counted using a preference distribution method. First-preference votes are counted first. If required, preferences are then distributed until all positions are filled.
How voting is run
Council elections in South Australia are conducted by postal vote.
Ballot papers are mailed to enrolled voters, who complete and return them by the required deadline. Instructions are included with each ballot pack.
Election results
Election results are declared after all valid votes are counted and preference distributions are completed.
Under the Local Government (Elections) Act 1999, the Electoral Commission of SA must declare the provisional result of the election once the count is completed for each election.
Results are published to the Electoral Commission of SA's website.
Supplementary elections
Supplementary elections are held if a council position becomes vacant between periodic elections.
This can happen if a member resigns or is unable to continue in the role. Supplementary elections are also conducted by the Electoral Commission of SA and are held outside of the normal scheduled timetable of elections for a council.