Council Elections
Council elections, also known as local government elections, are required to be conducted every four years with the next periodic election to be held in November 2026.
Voting in council elections is not mandatory. People who are elected to council are involved in council's strategic decision making and will help shape council services, programs and infrastructure projects for their community. It is a great opportunity to represent and make a difference in your council area.
The local government elections are governed by the Local Government (Elections) Act 1999 and Local Government (Elections) Regulations 2010.
On this page:
Enrolling to vote
You are eligible to enrol to vote if you:
- are an Australian citizen;
- aged 18 years and over, and
- have lived at your address for at least one month.
To ensure you are eligible to vote in future council elections you must be enrolled on one of these rolls:
- the State (House of Assembly) Roll; or
- the Council Supplementary Roll*
To check your current electoral enrolment details;
- Visit the Australian Electoral Commission's website at: check.aec.gov.au; or
- Contact the Australian Electoral Commission on 13 23 26; or
- Contact the Electoral Commission SA (ECSA) on 1300 655 232.
If you have moved house or changed your name, and you want to be able to nominate or vote in a future council election you will need to update your details.
*Council Supplementary Roll
If you are not enrolled on the State (House of Assembly) Roll you may be eligible to register on Council's Supplementary Roll, of an election year, if any of the following applies to you in the City of Port Lincoln council area.
- You have been a resident at your current address for one month
- You are not an Australian citizen, but you have been a resident at your current address for one month
- You are a sole owner or occupier of a property that pays rates
- You are a landlord for rateable property
- You are an organisation/business that owns or occupies a property that pays rates
- You are a group of owners or occupiers of property that pays rates
Please note under the Local Government (Elections) Act 1999, there is a requirement for Council to purge the Council Supplementary Roll on 1 January of every election year. This means that all landlords, organisations, business owners or occupiers, and resident non-Australian citizens are removed from the Council Supplementary Roll after January 1 of an election year and will need to re-enrol in order to be eligible to vote.
For more information contact Council.
Nominating for council
Most people who are enrolled on the State (House of Assembly) Roll or the Council Supplementary Roll in their council area can stand for election. There are a few exceptions (such as being an undischarged bankrupt, or being disqualified from holding office by a court order). You can nominate for a position on council regardless of qualifications, religion, race, gender, experience or profession.
The next periodic election (Council Election) will be held in 2026.
Campaigning and Signage
'Electoral advertising posters' relating to local government elections, Section 226 - Moveable signs of the Local Government Act 1999 are prohibited on public roads (including any structure, fixture or vegetation on a public road). This means corflute election signs cannot be affixed to stobie poles, traffic signs, trees etc along a public road. The maximum penalty is $5000.
Council's authorised officers are entitled to enforce Section 226 - Moveable signs under Section 227 - Removal of moveable sign of the Local Government Act 1999.
Council has a General Approval to Display Local Government Election Signs which can be viewed here.
Voting
Voting in council elections is conducted by post. All election materials, including ballot papers, are mailed directly to the postal address you provide on the electoral roll. This makes voting easy and convenient for all.
Voting in council elections is not mandatory but it is your opportunity to have a say on who will best represent your interests and needs fairly, while deciding about key things that happen in your local area.
View City of Port Lincoln's current Elected Members 2022-2026
Related information
- Local Government Association of SA - Council Elections
- Electoral Commission SA
- Australian Electoral Commission
Need more information?
If you have any questions about Council Elections, please contact:
City of Port Lincoln
People, Governance & Communication Team
9.00am to 5.00pm, Monday to Friday
Phone: 8621 2300
Email: plcc@plcc.sa.gov.au
This page is authorised by CEO Matthew Morgan, City of Port Lincoln, Level One, Civic Centre, 60 Tasman Terrace, Port Lincoln SA 5606