2024 local government elections

The Electoral Commission of Queensland acknowledges the Traditional Owners of country across Queensland, and their connection to land and community. We pay our respects to all Traditional Owners, and Elders past, present and emerging.

The 2024 local government elections will include elections for mayors and councillors in each of Queensland’s 77 councils. Election day will be on Saturday, 16 March 2024.

Information for election participants

Electoral expenditure caps have now been introduced for local government election participants, following the commencement of the Local Government Electoral and Other Legislation (Expenditure Caps) Amendment Act 2023.

The ECQ has followed the legislated process to determine the expenditure caps for mayoral and councillor candidates for the election. The caps are based on the number of enrolled electors as at 1 July 2023.

View the notice of expenditure caps and number of electors PDF (0.25 MB)

The electoral expenditure caps apply during the capped expenditure period. This is between Monday 14 August 2023 and 6pm on 16 March 2024 (election day).

You must pay close attention to your electoral expenditure during the capped expenditure period for the election. Penalties for exceeding your electoral expenditure cap may include prosecution, fines, and/or debt recovery. Exceeding the expenditure cap is also an integrity offence under the Local Government Electoral Act 2011.

Candidate nominations will open after the notice of election is issued by the Electoral Commission of Queensland (ECQ). If you are planning to nominate as a candidate in the 2024 local government elections, you should advise the ECQ via the Self Service Portal to ensure you receive important information in the meantime.

Learn more about being a participant in local government elections

Information for voters

If you are eligible to vote in the 2024 local government elections, there are a few things you can do now to ensure you’re ready. These include:

Information about election signage

Local councils determine the rules that apply to election signage and advertising (like corflutes) next to local roads, on private property and on some state-controlled roads in their area.

Election signage and advertising on state-controlled (usually main) roads is regulated by the Department of Transport and Main Roads. Information can be found on Department of Transport and Main Roads website.

Candidates and other election participants should check the requirements of their local council and the Department of Transport and Main Roads before displaying any signage near roads.

Any complaints about the content of election signage should be made to the candidate, political party or campaigner that has authorised the sign in the first instance.

The ECQ can only regulate the authorisation of election material during the election period (the time between the notice of election and election day). The ECQ does not have the ability to remove, or direct the removal of, election signage on roads. The ECQ also does not regulate:

  • the location, size or number of election signs (except directly by polling places)
  • the removal of signage after the election
  • any requirement for campaign workers to remain with signs
  • theft or damage to election signage (Please report to the police).

For further information, please see our local government Fact sheets 3 – Authorisation of election material and 7 – Offences relating to electoral advertising as well as the ECQ’s Compliance Approach for the 2024 local elections.

Local government engagement

The ECQ’s planning and preparations are underway and include engagement with councils to:

  • provide transparency about the election process
  • seek input into the design of electoral services in each local community.

The ECQ has formed the Local Government Election Advisory Committee, comprised of representatives from across the local government sector. The Committee provides a local government perspective to inform planning and preparation for the 2024 local government elections.

Committee membership:

  • Pat Vidgen PSM, Electoral Commissioner (Chair), ECQ
  • Wade Lewis, Assistant Electoral Commissioner, ECQ
  • Josh Hannan, Deputy Director-General, Local Government Division, Department of State Development, Infrastructure, Local Government and Planning
  • Peta Irvine, Chief Executive Officer, Local Government Managers Australia
  • Chatur Zala, Chief Executive Officer, Cherbourg Aboriginal Shire Council
  • Glen Beckett, Head of Assist, Local Government Association of Queensland
  • Victoria Nelson, Coordinator Councillor Governance, Sunshine Coast Council
  • Kevin Yearbury PSM, independent member.

Meeting communiques

On 9 March 2023, the Electoral Commission of Queensland’s (ECQ) Local Government Election Advisory Committee (the Committee) held its first meeting. The ECQ established the Committee to provide a local government perspective on the planning and preparation for the 2024 local government quadrennial elections. The Committee is comprised of ECQ representatives and external members from the local government sector.

The members are:

  • Pat Vidgen PSM, Electoral Commissioner (Chair), ECQ
  • Wade Lewis, Assistant Electoral Commissioner, ECQ
  • Jae Lancaster, Deputy Director-General, Local Government Division, Department of State Development, Infrastructure, Local Government and Planning
  • Peta Irvine, Chief Executive Officer, Local Government Managers Australia (Andrew Chesterman, Chief Executive Officer, Redland City Council attended the first meeting as a proxy)
  • Chatur Zala, Chief Executive Officer, Cherbourg Aboriginal Shire Council
  • Glen Beckett, Head of Assist, Acting Head of Advocacy, Local Government Association of Queensland
  • Victoria Nelson, Coordinator Councillor Governance, Sunshine Coast Council, and
  • Kevin Yearbury PSM, independent member.

Committee members all have broad experience across the local government sector in various capacities. Their diverse viewpoints will support the ECQ to provide better electoral services to local governments across Queensland.

The first meeting of the Committee was an opportunity for the Electoral Commissioner and other ECQ representatives to highlight the approach the ECQ is taking to deepen its engagement with the local government sector and individual councils as well as increase transparency of the electoral process.

Members were presented information on various topics including the election resourcing model and drivers of election-related costs, recruitment of Returning Officers, election service design, and First Nations engagement.

Members provided constructive feedback on various aspects of the election planning process, which the ECQ will consider in its election planning and preparations. They also identified areas of interest for discussion at future meetings, including implementation of the new expenditure cap legislation and the different roles of the ECQ and council chief executive officers during the conduct of the elections.

The next meeting of the Committee is proposed for early July 2023.

On 5 July 2023, the Electoral Commission of Queensland’s (ECQ) Local Government Election Advisory Committee (the Committee) held its second meeting.

The ECQ established the Committee to provide local government perspectives on the planning and preparation for the 2024 local government quadrennial elections. The meetings are also an opportunity for the ECQ to provide greater transparency to the local government sector into the electoral process and the ECQ’s associated activities to deliver accessible, fair and transparent local government elections.

The meeting agenda was extensive, and members were presented information on various topics including:

  • the recruitment, training and allocation of Returning Officers and Assistant Returning Officers
  • the ECQ’s Compliance Approach for the 2024 local government elections, without reference to specific compliance matters or methodologies
  • implementation of local government electoral expenditure caps
  • the review of the mandatory councillor training by the Department of State Development, Infrastructure, Local Government and Planning
  • an overview of the cost estimates provided to each local government for delivery of the 2024 elections for their council
  • an update on planning activities for the 2024 local government elections
  • the process for assessing and providing recommendations to the Deputy Premier on applications for full postal elections
  • the completion of the inaugural ECQ First Nations Engagement Strategy, and
  • the ECQ submission to the Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications and the Arts’ Postal Services Modernisation discussion paper.

Committee members had particular interest in understanding the process for recruiting, training and allocating Returning Officers and Assistant Returning Officers. They highlighted to the ECQ the importance of the capability of these officers and their relationships with the relevant local government.

The Committee also discussed best practice in providing information to candidates, political parties and third parties on their obligations. This applied to the compliance approach, local government electoral expenditure caps and the mandatory candidate training where there is a balance between providing information that is engaging and supports electoral participation while effectively communicating the importance of meeting various obligations.

The next meeting of the Committee is proposed for October 2023.

Council newsletters – The Countdown

Read the ECQ’s updates to councils about the 2024 local government elections through its newsletter, The Countdown.