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.