Mapoon Aboriginal Shire Council by-election
A by-election is being held to elect a new councillor in Mapoon Aboriginal Shire Council.
Election day is Saturday 21 February 2026.
Early voting will be held from 9am-6pm:
- Wednesday 18 through Friday 20 February at Jean Jimmy Centre, Red Beach Road, Mapoon
- Thursday 19 February at Weipa Storm Surge Shelter, 6 Hibberd Road, Rocky Point
You can also request a postal vote be mailed to you.
View the notice of election.
View the election timetable.
Voting is compulsory.
Quick links
In person
Early voting
Early voting is available from Wednesday 18 February to Friday 20 February 2026 9am to 6pm.
Our early voting centres are:
- Wednesday - Friday: Jean Jimmy Centre, Red Beach Road, Mapoon
- Thursday 19 February only: Weipa Storm Surge Shelter, 6 Hibberd Drive Rocky Point
Election day voting
Election day is Saturday 21 February 2026. Voting is available at the Jimmy Jeans Centre, Red Beach Road, Mapoon from 8am to 6pm.
Postal voting
You can request a postal vote on our website. The deadline for requesting a postal vote is 7pm on Monday 9 February 2026.
Please contact the ECQ for advice if you're uncertain about postal vote delivery timeframes.
Find out more about how to complete a postal vote and watch a short video.
You need to complete your vote by 6pm Saturday 21 February 2026.
The ECQ must receive it by 6pm Tuesday 3 March 2026 so your vote can be counted.
Nominations close at 12pm on Thursday 29 January 2026.
More information:
- Fact sheet 1 – Eligibility to become a candidate in local government elections PDF (0.18 MB)
- Fact sheet 2 – Nominating as a candidate for local government elections PDF (0.23 MB)
- Form 5 LGA - Nomination form (endorsed) PDF (0.17 MB)
- Form 6 LGA - Nomination form (non PDF (0.17 MB)
All candidates must complete the free training course So you want to be a councillor? conducted by the Department of Local Government, Water and Volunteers.
This course must be completed within 6 months of nominating which means if you already completed the course before nominating for the March 2024 local government elections, you will need to retake it and get a new certificate of completion.
The course is fully online and will take about 90 minutes to complete. After finishing the training, you will want to download your certificate of completion. The certificate contains a reference number that must be included on your nomination form.
The timetable for the by-election is set in accordance with the Local Government Electoral Act 2011. The election period began following the publication of the notice of election.
- Notice of election – Tuesday 20 January 2026
- Candidate nominations – Tuesday 20 January to 12pm on Thursday 29 January 2026
- Close of electoral roll - Tuesday 27 January 2026
- Deadline for requesting a postal vote - 7pm on Monday 9 February 2026
- Early voting begins - Wednesday 18 February 2026
- Election day – Saturday 21 February 2026
- Postal vote return deadline – Tuesday 3 March 2026
Name: Faye Gates
Office address: Jean Jimmy Centre, Red Beach Road, Mapoon