Councillor Elections

To nominate as a candidate for the Southern Midlands Council elections, you must be enrolled in the Southern Midlands local government area and have your principal place of residence in Tasmania. You can nominate for the office of Councillor, Mayor, Deputy Mayor, or a combination of these positions.

Certain people are disqualified from standing for election. Candidates should refer to the Tasmanian Electoral Commission (TEC) candidate information and handbook for the full eligibility requirements.

The Tasmanian Electoral Commission’s candidate information page provides information about eligibility, nomination requirements, campaigning, candidate statements and photographs, and electoral advertising returns.

Candidates elected as Councillors, Mayor or Deputy Mayor serve a four-year term. The Southern Midlands Council generally meets monthly, on the last Wednesday of the month at 10.00 am. Councillors may also be required to attend Council workshops, committee meetings and community events.

Councillors receive allowances in accordance with the Local Government Act 1993 and applicable regulations.

If you require information from Council in relation to your campaign or nomination, requests must be made to the General Manager.

Candidates are required to lodge an electoral advertising return with the TEC within 45 days after the certificate of election is issued. This requirement applies to all candidates, whether or not they are elected. Candidates must declare electoral advertising expenditure and provide the required supporting documentation.

For information about nominations, candidate eligibility and the conduct of the election, please contact the Tasmanian Electoral Commission.

Candidates should ensure they are familiar with the requirements governing election signage before erecting or displaying any signs.

Election signs are subject to requirements under both Council requirements and the Tasmanian Planning Scheme. Penalties and other enforcement action may apply where signage requirements are not met.

Candidates are prohibited from erecting or displaying election signs on or in Council property. Council property includes land owned or managed by Council, including Council roads. Council's Authorised Officers may remove election signs placed on Council property.

Election signs are also regulated under the Tasmanian Planning Scheme – Southern Midlands Local Provisions Schedule. An election sign is an impermanent sign identifying a candidate or promoting a political party for a local, State or Australian Government election.

Under the Tasmanian Planning Scheme, an election sign is exempt from requiring a planning permit only where all of the following requirements are met:

• it is not erected more than eight weeks before the polling date — for the 2026 election, not before 10 August 2026;
• it does not encroach on a road or other public land, including land owned or managed by the Crown, a State Authority or a Council;
• it has a maximum area of 1.5 m²; and
• it is removed within seven days after polling day — for the 2026 election, by 3 November 2026.

Signs that do not meet all four requirements require planning approval from Council. Breaching the planning scheme may result in an infringement notice. Council may also issue a notice requiring the person who placed the sign, or the owner of the land on which it is located, to remove the sign. Council may remove a sign and recover the associated costs where permitted by legislation.

For further information regarding election signage and planning requirements, contact Council's Planning Department.

Southern Midlands Council's Election Caretaker Period Policy acknowledges that all candidates for the offices of Mayor, Deputy Mayor and Councillor are to be treated equally, fairly and without discrimination.

The caretaker period for the 2026 local government elections commenced on 5 August 2026.

During the election and caretaker period, the following protocols apply to the relationship between Council and candidates:

• Council will not supply or make available resources or facilities that would advantage one candidate over another, other than resources or facilities ordinarily available to members of the public.
• Council will provide assistance, information and advice required as part of the conduct of the Council election and will make this information accessible equally to all candidates.
• Councillors will continue to receive information necessary to perform their roles. However, neither Councillors nor candidates will receive information or advice from Council officers that may advantage them in the election.
• Information and briefing material supplied at the request of a candidate during the election and caretaker period will be limited to factual matters or information about current Council services that are publicly accessible.
• Information supplied will not relate to policy development, new projects, matters that are the subject of public or election debate, or matters that could reasonably be perceived as being connected to a candidate's election campaign.
• Requests for information that require significant Council resources to prepare may be refused at the discretion of the General Manager.

A candidate requesting information relating to their election campaign must make a formal request in writing to the General Manager.

Requests should be limited to factual information that is publicly available or information that can appropriately be provided in accordance with Council's Election Caretaker Period Policy.

Council will seek to ensure that information provided to candidates is consistent, factual and does not provide an individual candidate with an electoral advantage.