Key Council Election Dates
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.
The State Government have changed the Local Government Election dates from November 2026 to April 2027.
Instructions on where to send your ballot papers is listed in the ballot pack. You'll be sent a ballot pack if you're enrolled to vote in SA state elections. If you're not sure, check your enrolment.
Contact the Australian Electoral Commission if you need help: 13 23 26.
2027 Council Election Dates
| Description | Date |
|---|---|
Close of rolls If you're enrolled to vote in SA state elections, you'll automatically be enrolled to vote in council elections. A ballot pack will be sent to your registered mailing address. You can check and update your enrolment details online, and can enrol if needed. | 5:00pm Monday 4 January 2027 |
| Nominations open Interested in running for council? You'll need to nominate to become a candidate before you can start campaigning your candidacy. | Tuesday 26 January 2027 |
Nominations close You must submit your nomination before the deadline. Learn how to nominate. | 12:00pm Tuesday 9 February 2027 |
Ballot packs mail-out period Ballot packs will be sent to the mailing address included on your enrolment. Keep an eye out for it in the mail. Instructions and guides on how to vote are included in the ballot pack. | Thursday 11 March - Wednesday 17 March 2027 |
| Voting close (polling day) You must return your ballot papers so they reach the electoral commission before this deadline. | 5:00pm Wednesday 7 April 2027 |
| Scrutiny and count After the close of voting, the Electoral Commission of SA finalises all ballot material received and organises delivery of ballot material to each council. Council then start checking and counting ballots. Votes are counted using a preference distribution method. First-preference votes are counted first. If required, preferences are then distributed until all positions are filled. | Saturday 10 April 2027 |