Councillor Elections

Councils have a significant impact on the lives of all Tasmanians, enabling the economic, social and cultural development of the community, supporting individuals and groups, and providing a wide range of services for the wellbeing of the community. 

Councillors play a vital leadership role, working together to create and implement their community’s vision, strategic direction and the values within which they operate.

Mayors, Deputy Mayors and Councillors are all elected for four-year terms. The West Tamar Council has 9 Councillors including the Mayor and Deputy Mayor who are popularly elected.

The next Council elections will be held in 2026. Key dates are available on the Tasmanian Electoral Commission website.

By voting you can help influence what sort of place your community will be.  It is about your future so vote for the representative(s) you want.  Talk to other people you know and encourage them to vote too. It is now compulsory for those on the State Electoral Roll to vote in Local Government Elections.

Almost everyone over 18, living, owning or leasing property in a Council area is eligible to vote:

• You are required to vote in the Council area you are a resident of, if you are on the State electoral roll (you don’t have to own a property).
• You can also vote in a Council area that you manage property in, but are not a resident of. You will need to complete an enrolment form for owners/occupiers or corporate bodies to join the General Manager's Roll.

Whether you are a resident, property owner or business operator, becoming a Local Government councillor can be the most direct and rewarding way to contribute to your local community.  

Standing for election provides you with a great opportunity to influence the future direction of the local community and help those who require support. It can be daunting and time consuming, but also rewarding. Councils are complex and vibrant organisations that require talented and dedicated individuals to participate in making the decisions that count.

Elections are conducted by the Tasmanian Electoral Commission (TEC). Information on key dates for those considering standing as a candidate is available from the TEC website, and a range of resources including online training and a handbook for candidates is available on the Local Government Association of Tasmania (LGAT) website.

The current provisions under the Tasmanian Planning Scheme defines Election Signage as an impermanent sign identifying candidates or promoting a political party for local, state or federal government elections.

An election sign does not require a planning permit, however it must:

(a)     not encroach on any road or other public land;

(b)     have a maximum area of 1.5m²;

(c)     not be erected more than 8 weeks before the polling date; and

(d)     be removed within 7 days after the polling date.

Please note Council will remove signs that do not meet these requirements. Further information is available via our Election Signage in the West Tamar document.