2026 Tasmanian local elections

2026 Tasmanian local elections

October 2026
All 27 local government areas in Tasmania (All 263 elected council members)[1][2]
IND Party Independents Greens Last election 199 seats 11 seats Current seats 204 9[a]

The 2026 Tasmanian local elections will be held in October 2026 to elect the councils, mayors and deputy mayors of the 29 local government areas (LGAs) in Tasmania, Australia.[8]

Electoral system

Like at state and federal elections, voting in Tasmanian local elections is compulsory and has been since 2022.[9] All voting is held via post, and the elections are conducted by the Tasmanian Electoral Commission (TEC).[10]

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.[11] Mayors and deputy mayors are elected using preferential voting, which is also used for Tasmanian Legislative Council elections.[11] The Robson Rotation is used to rotate the order in which candidate names appear on ballot papers.[12]

Political parties

The Tasmanian Liberal Party and the Tasmanian Labor Party generally do not endorse candidates for local elections.[13][14] The Tasmanian Greens do endorse candidates and had 11 candidates elected in 2022.[15][16]

Party changes before elections

A number of councillors joined or left parties before the 2026 elections.

Council	Councillor	Former party		New party		Date
Dorset	Greg Howard		Independent Liberal		Independent	12 July 2023[17][18]
Hobart	Louise Elliot		Independent		Independent Liberal	November 2023[19]
Hobart	Louise Elliot		Independent Liberal		Independent	20 February 2024[20]

Notes

1. Liz Johnstone (Break O'Day) and Gideon Cordover (Kingborough) left the Greens at some point between 2023 and 2024.[3][4][5] Helen Burnet (Hobart) was elected to the House of Assembly in 2024 and replaced via countback by Gemma Kitsos, and Jenny Chambers-Smith (Huon Valley) resigned from council in 2024 and was replaced via countback by Lukas Mrosek.[6][7]

References

1. "Review of Tasmania's Local Government Legislation Framework" (PDF). Department of Premier and Cabinet. December 2018. p. 9. Archived from the original (PDF) on 21 October 2024. Retrieved 16 November 2024. There are currently 263 elected members and nearly 4000 employees across Tasmania's 29 councils, who serve half a million constituents
2. Burton, Bob (2 August 2021). "Most Tasmanian councils in breach of rules for disclosure of gifts and donations". Tasmanian Inquirer. Archived from the original on 22 October 2024. Retrieved 16 November 2024.
3. "Liz Johnstone". Tasmanian Greens. Retrieved 11 December 2023.
4. "Gideon Cordover". Tasmanian Greens. Retrieved 23 May 2024.
5. "Our Council Representatives". Tasmanian Greens. Archived from the original on 25 October 2024. Retrieved 16 November 2024.
6. "Hobart's newest councillor Gemma Kitsos officially elected after recount". Pulse Tasmania. 22 April 2024. Archived from the original on 22 April 2024. Retrieved 16 November 2024.
7. "Greens candidate Lukas Mrosek fills council vacancy in Huon Valley". Pulse Tasmania. 20 August 2024. Archived from the original on 30 October 2024. Retrieved 16 November 2024.
8. "Council elections". Tasmanian Government. Archived from the original on 24 October 2024.
9. Langenberg, Adam (11 October 2022). "Tasmania's first local election with compulsory voting has been hotly fought". ABC News. Archived from the original on 29 February 2024. Retrieved 16 November 2024.
10. Cooper-Douglas, Erin (2 October 2022). "Voting in Tasmania's local council elections is now compulsory. Here's what you need to know". ABC News. Archived from the original on 17 September 2024. Retrieved 16 November 2024.
11. "Ways to vote". Tasmanian Electoral Commission. Archived from the original on 16 October 2024. Retrieved 16 November 2024.
12. "A discussion paper on Robson rotation in Tasmania" (PDF). Tasmanian Electoral Commission. April 2008. Archived from the original (PDF) on 22 October 2024. Retrieved 16 November 2024.
13. "LIBERALS ISSUE "HOW TO VOTE" ADVICE FOR HOBART COUNCIL ELECTION". Facebook. Tasmanian Liberals. 10 October 2018. Archived from the original on 26 September 2024. Retrieved 26 September 2024.
14. "Australian Labor Party Tasmanian Branch rules" (PDF). Tasmanian Labor. 23 June 2023. p. 40. Archived from the original (PDF) on 16 October 2024. Retrieved 16 November 2024. The Party may decide to endorse a candidate or candidates for a local government election.
15. Booth, Kim (23 October 2014). "Vote Green this Local Government Election". Tasmanian Greens MPs. Archived from the original on 16 November 2024. Retrieved 16 November 2024.
16. "Greens Announce 5 Candidates for HCC Elections". Tasmanian Times. 14 February 2022. Archived from the original on 1 January 2024. Retrieved 16 November 2024.
17. Maloney, Matt (12 July 2023). "Dorset mayor Greg Howard bitterly breaks from Liberal Party". The Examiner. Archived from the original on 3 January 2024. Retrieved 16 November 2024.
18. "Labor: Liberals in Disarray over Elitism, Local Government". Tasmanian Times. 13 July 2023. Archived from the original on 16 August 2024. Retrieved 16 November 2024.
19. Woodruff, Rosalie (14 November 2023). "Right-Wing Extremism". Tasmanian Greens MPs. Archived from the original on 20 February 2024. Retrieved 16 November 2024.
20. Bailey, Sue (21 February 2024). "Change of heart: Hobart councillor Louise Elliot ditches Liberals to run for election as independent". The Mercury. Archived from the original on 20 February 2024. Retrieved 16 November 2024.