Glenorchy City Council elections are held every four years.
Voting is compulsory for all enrolled residents of the Glenorchy municipality.
Councillors play a vital leadership role, working together to create and implement their community’s vision and strategic direction.
Mayors, Deputy Mayors and Elected Members are all elected for four-year terms. Mayors and Deputy Mayors are popularly elected by the community.
How Elections Work?
Tasmanian local government elections are conducted by the Tasmanian Electoral Commission (TEC) using a postal ballot. You do not need to attend a polling booth.
Who is Eligible to Vote?
Everyone on the State Roll is automatically enrolled and required to vote in local government elections.
To check if you are enrolled on the State Roll, please refer to the Check my Enrolment page on the Australian Electoral Commission website.
Other people who own or occupy land in the municipal area or are the nominated representatives of a corporate body which owns or occupies land in the municipal area, may also be eligible to enrol, but must lodge an enrolment application with the Chief Executive Officer.
The General Manager’s Roll
ou may be eligible for the General Manager’s Electoral Roll if:
- you are a resident in the Glenorchy municipality, but not eligible for the State Electoral Roll; or
- you own or occupy land in Glenorchy, but do not live in the Glenorchy municipality; or
- you are the nominated representative of a corporate body, which owns or occupies land in the Glenorchy municipality
A voter, in an election in respect of one municipal area, has a maximum of two votes:
- one vote is in their own right; and
- one vote on behalf of a corporate body
Enrolment is not automatic – you must apply.
Enrol for the General Manager’s Electoral Roll
Please complete the relevant form:
General Manager’s Roll Enrolment Form for a Non Resident (PDF)
General Manager’s Roll Enrolment Form for a Corporate Body (PDF)
To submit your form you can either
Deliver your relevant form to the Glenorchy City Council Chambers, 374 Main Road, Glenorchy, TAS, 7010.
Mail your relevant form to the Chief Executive Officer, Glenorchy City Council, PO Box 103, Glenorchy TAS 7010
Email your relevant form to gccmail@gcc.tas.gov.au
Voting in the Election
- Compulsory for people on the State Electoral Roll
- Not compulsory for those on the General Manager’s Roll
This election is conducted entirely by postal ballot. There is no single polling day. Voting is open across a polling period, and your completed ballot must be received by 2:00 pm on Tuesday 27 October 2026.
Your ballot pack
Ballot packs are posted to all enrolled electors from Monday 5 October. Your pack contains your ballot papers, the candidate statements, and instructions for completing and returning your vote. Follow those instructions carefully — a ballot paper that isn’t completed correctly may not be counted.
Post your completed ballot back as early as you can, allowing several business days for delivery. Votes arriving after 2:00 pm on 27 October cannot be included in the count. You can also return your completed ballot by:
- hand deliver to Customer Service at 374 Main Road, Glenorchy or
- mail using the Reply Paid envelope in your ballot pack.
Please note that if you are mailing your vote to the returning officer, you should do so allowing sufficient time for the mail to be received prior to the close of polling.
If your pack doesn’t arrive or is damaged, contact the Tasmanian Electoral Commission on 1800 801 701 as soon as possible to arrange a replacement.
Counting and results
Counting begins at 9:00 am on Wednesday 28 October 2026, and results are published as they become available at tec.tas.gov.au.
Elections are conducted by the Tasmanian Electoral Commission (TEC). Further information regarding enrolment, elections and voting is available on the TEC website.
2026 Local Government Elections: Information for Prospective Candidates
Local government plays a vital role in shaping Tasmanian communities, from roads, infrastructure and planning to services and community wellbeing. The 2026 local government elections are an opportunity for electors to choose who will represent them, including councillors, mayors and deputy mayors.
If you are considering nominating, now is the time to learn about the role, eligibility requirements, nomination process, campaigning obligations and election timetable.
Election Overview
In September and October 2026, elections will be held across all 29 Tasmanian local government areas. Elections are conducted by postal ballot and voting is compulsory for all electors on the State Roll.
Glenorchy will have seven councillors following the upcoming local government elections, along with the positions of Mayor and Deputy Mayor, for a four-year term. This means there will be nine Elected Members in total. This is down from the previous total of ten due to state-wide council reforms that reduce councillor numbers across Tasmania.
Candidate Handbook and Information
The Tasmanian Electoral Commission (TEC) is the official source of information about candidate eligibility, nominations and the election timetable.
The Local Government Association of Tasmania (LGAT) has also released a Candidate Handbook to support anyone considering running for local council and to explain the role and responsibilities of a Councillor. View the Candidate Handbook here.
Election Timetable
- Monday 7 September 2026: Nominations open
- Thursday 10 September 2026: Enrolment closes at 6pm
- Monday 21 September 2026: Nominations close at 12 noon
- Tuesday 22 September 2026: Nominations announced at 12 noon
- Monday 5 October 2026: Ballot packs delivered by post
- Tuesday 27 October 2026: Close of poll at 2pm
- Wednesday 28 October 2026: Counting commences
Advertising and Signage
Candidates are responsible for ensuring all election advertising and signage complies with relevant election requirements.
Election signs must:
✔ Have a maximum area of 1.5 square metres
✔ Be displayed no earlier than 8 weeks before polling day
✔ Be removed within 7 days after polling day
✔ Be displayed on private with the owner’s permission, and must not encroach upon a road, road reserve, or other public land
✔ Include the required electoral authorisation.
Election signs, stickers and other political material are not permitted:
❌ On roads, road reservations, nature strips or median strips or any other public land
❌ On any public land, infrastructure or road reserve
❌ On Council-owned land, assets, facilities, buildings, car parks or other Council property
❌ In public parks, reserves or playgrounds
❌ On power poles, streetlight poles or other utility infrastructure
❌ On public infrastructure, including bus shelters, traffic signal boxes, public bins and seating
❌ On trees located on public land
❌ On bridges, overpasses or other public infrastructure.’
Reporting non-compliant election signage
If you believe election signage does not comply with planning requirements, you can report it to Glenorchy City Council. Please include a photograph of the sign, along with the date, time and location.
You can submit a report:
- 🌐 Online via Glenorchy City Council’s Contact Us form.
- 📧 By email to Glenorchy City Council – gccmail@gcc.tas.gov.au
- 👥 In person at the Council Chambers – 374 Main Road, Glenorchy, TAS 7010
- 📫 By mail to Glenorchy City Council – PO Box 103, Glenorchy TAS 7010
Results and the New Council
Counting begins at 9am on Wednesday 28 October 2026 and results are published as they become available at tec.tas.gov.au. Because councillor positions are counted using a proportional system that distributes preferences, the full result may take several days to finalise. The mayor and deputy mayor are counted separately.
From this election the Glenorchy City Council l will have nine elected members, including the mayor and deputy mayor, reduced from ten.
After the election
Once the Tasmanian Electoral Commission declares the result and issues certificates of election, each successful candidate must make a declaration of office before they can act as a councillor. Details of the incoming Council will be published on our Elected Members page, and the date of the new Council’s first meeting will be listed under Meetings, Agendas and Minutes.
If a councillor position becomes vacant during the four-year term, it is filled either by a recount of the votes from this election or by a by-election, depending on the circumstances. The Tasmanian Electoral Commission administers both processes.
Useful Websites
- Tasmanian Electoral Commission: https://www.tec.tas.gov.au/
- Local Government Association of Tasmania (LGAT): https://www.lgat.tas.gov.au/
- Office of Local Government: https://www.dpac.tas.gov.au/government-information/local-government
More information
Contact the Tasmanian Electoral Commission for information about enrolment, voting and candidacy.
Website: tec.tas.gov.au Phone: 1800 801 701
Unsure what something on this page means? Check out Our Glossary.