2018 Tasmanian local elections

2018 Tasmanian local elections

8–30 October 2018
Turnout	58.70%

The 2018 Tasmanian local elections were held in October 2018 to elect the councils of the 29 local government areas (LGAs) in Tasmania, Australia. Councils also held mayoral and deputy mayoral elections.[1]

This was the last time voting in Tasmanian local elections was voluntary, with compulsory voting introduced in 2022.[2] Polls opened on 8 October and closed on Tuesday, 30 October.[3]

Electoral system

Councillor elections are conducted using a slightly modified version of the Hare-Clark electoral system, which is also used for Tasmanian House of Assembly elections.[3] Mayors and deputy mayors are elected using preferential voting, which is used for Tasmanian Legislative Council elections.[3]

The Robson Rotation is used to rotate the order in which candidate names appear on ballot papers. All voting in Tasmanian local elections is conducted by post.[3]

Elections timeline

• 10 September – Candidate nominations open
• 24 September – Candidate nominations close
• 8 October – Voting opens
• 30 October – Voting closes

Party changes before elections

A number of councillors joined or left parties before the 2018 elections.

Council	Councillor	Former party		New party		Date
Hobart	Anna Reynolds		Greens		Independent	2 June 2018
Hobart	Marti Zucco		Independent		Your Hobart	21 August 2018

Campaign

Holly Ewin, an endorsed Greens candidate for Hobart, resigned from the party on 20 October after voting had begun.[4] She stated that she "[does] not believe the state party is acting in accordance with its founding principle of grassroots democracy".[4]

References

1. "Local Government Elections 2018". Tasmanian Electoral Commission.
2. "Voting in Tasmania's local council elections is now compulsory. Here's what you need to know". ABC News.
3. "Tips about marking your ballot paper for local government elections". Tasmanian Electoral Commission.
4. "HCC Greens candidate Holly Ewin leaves party on election eve". The Mercury.