Please note: to be eligible to vote in local government elections you must be enrolled by 5pm 29 July 2022. Links to enrolment are at the bottom of this post.
2022 has been a BIG election year here in SA so far, but it’s not quite over yet – we’ve still got Local Government (or Council) Elections on the horizon. What are councils responsible for, you ask? Have a look here.
Local Government Elections voting will happen from 14 October to 10 November this year, but they run a little differently to the state and federal elections we’ve just had.
Firstly, all voting is done by post, hence the voting period rather than a polling day and early voting period. All your voting materials will be sent to you (to the address you provided for the electoral roll) and once you’ve completed your ballot you send it back in the provided envelope.
Additionally voting in local government elections is not compulsory.
But most importantly, voting in council elections is open to a broader range of people than are eligible to vote in state or federal elections.
Council elections aren’t just open to citizens. International students, workers and temporary or permanent residents over 18 are eligible to enrol and vote – just on a different roll.
You are eligible for your council’s supplementary roll if any of the following apply:
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.
For council elections the electoral roll is made up of the roll used for state and federal elections via the Australian Electoral Commission (AEC) and council supplementary rolls for voters who are not eligible to enrol on the AEC roll. This roll is also where businesses and organisations enrol to vote in Council elections.
Important note: if you’re eligible for your council roll you will need re-enrol to vote each year of an election because councils (except City of Adelaide) have to purge their rolls at the start of every election year.
Check your AEC enrolment here.
More info on council voter rolls here.
