Local Government Quadrennial Elections

The next Local Government Quadrennial Elections are due to be conducted in March 2016.

The Electoral Commission of Queensland will be conducting those elections, including elections for the Brisbane City Council.

Local Government elections are conducted on a similar basis to State elections including:

• Registered political parties may nominate candidates and have the party name on the ballot paper.
• Electors enrolled for Federal and State elections are automatically enrolled for their Local Government Area.
• Only how to vote cards that have been lodged in accordance with the relevant legislation can be distributed on polling day.
• Voting is compulsory.
• Candidates and contributors to candidates' campaigns are required to disclose expenses and contributions.
• Rolls for a Quadrennial Election close on the 31st January in the year of the election.

Local Government Structure

Mayors and Councillors are elected for a four year term.

Local Governments are either undivided or divided into single member divisions.

For divided councils, each division is required to have an approximately equal enrolment of electors.

Voting System

For Local Governments that are divided into separate divisions elections will be conducted using the Optional Preferential Voting system.  All other (undivided) Local Governments will use the First Past the Post system.