Becoming a candidate
As a council member, you can help create a future that you and your community can be proud of and enjoy. If you are passionate about your local community, willing to work as part of a team, keen to learn and make a difference, you can nominate for a position on council!
On this page:
Free online course - candidate eLearning tool
Get accurate and meaningful insight into the role of councils and learn more about the knowledge, qualities and skills needed to be an effective community leader on council.
Candidate Briefing information sessions
Thinking of running for council? Watch the free candidate briefing session hosted by ECSA below.
Time stamps
- 0:00 Intro
- 1:03 Election Timetable
- 3:20 Are you Eligible
- 4:51 How to Nominate
- 19:07 Campaigning requirements
- 27:38 The Voting process
- 30:56 Counting the votes
Who is eligible to become a candidate?
No special qualifications or experience is required to become a council member, and it is very likely that you are eligible. In fact, most people who can vote in local elections are also eligible to run as a candidate in them.
You can nominate for council no matter your experience, qualifications, religion, race, gender, or profession.
In South Australia, there are around 700 council members. If you are eligible to run as a council member, you are also eligible to run for mayor.
Being a councillor or mayor is a big commitment but also one that is very rewarding.
To be eligible to nominate for council
The rules for nominating state that you must be:
- an Australian citizen
- this includes dual citizens
- eligible to vote in your area
- or are an officer of a body corporate nominated to vote
- or are a member and nominee of a group that is on the council voters roll for the area.
You cannot run for council if you are:
- a State or Federal member of parliament
- not an Australian citizen
- bankrupt or receiving relief of insolvent debt.
- disqualified from holding office by a court order
- a council employee of that area
- a candidate for election in another council
- a person in prison or sentenced to prison.
You must be on your council’s voters roll to be eligible to run in council elections. Unsure if you're enrolled? Check your enrolment online, contact the council you enrolled with, or get in touch with Electoral Commission SA (ECSA) on 1300 655 232.
If you are not sure if you can nominate, contact Electoral Commission SA on 1300 655 232.
Am I the right person?
Communities are made up of people from different backgrounds with different needs and interests. This includes people that have historically had less input in council decisions, for example:
- Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people
- people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds
- people with a disability
- women
- young people, aged 18 years and older.
These groups are underrepresented as candidates and council members in South Australia and in other levels of governments across Australia.
Having a diversity of people on councils are important to ensure fair representation of the diverse communities it acts on behalf of.
It also allows the underrepresented communities to have a say, share their different point of views, ideas, and beliefs, and bring new perspectives to the table that can bring about greater understanding of issues and result in inclusive decision making.
Skills to be a good councillor
To be on council, you should be passionate about your local community, be keen to learn and willing to contribute to strategic decisions for your local area.
On a council, leadership skills are fundamental. You must be impartial, listen to other perspectives, and be well informed of the facts when advocating for the community. .
Councillors do not make decisions on their own. Councils make decisions as a whole. This means you must work well with other councillors as part of team.
As a councillor, you don’t have to agree on everything. Just be prepared to build effective working relationships, influence others constructively, and engage in respectful debate on council.
You also don’t need to know everything from the start to be a councillor. You will complete a council induction and training program, and attend workshops to build your skills and your understanding of council.
Council members are required to complete mandatory training in their first twelve months after an election. The LGA Mandatory Training Standard outlines the training subjects.
Key council election dates
The 2022 Council Elections are over. The next periodic election is in 2026.
Supplementary council Elections will be held in February 2023 with its key dates below.
Description | Date |
---|---|
Close of rolls Enrol to vote in your supplementary council elections. Enrol now or check your enrolment details online. | 5:00 pm, Tuesday 20 December 2022 |
Nominations open Interested in running for council? You will need to nominate to become a candidate before you can start campaigning your candidacy. | Friday 13 January 2023 |
Nominations close You must submit your nomination before the deadline. | 12 noon, Friday 27 January 2023 |
Ballot packs mail-out period Ballot packs will be sent to the mailing address included on your enrolment. Keep an eye out for it in the mail! Instructions and guides on how to vote are included in the ballot pack. | Wednesday 15 February 2023 to Tuesday 21 February 2023 |
Voting close (polling day) You must return your ballot papers so they reach the electoral commission before this deadline. | 12 noon Tuesday 14 March 2023 |