Elections
Council elections are held every 4 years and are conducted by post under the Local Government (Elections) Act 1999 (SA) and City of Adelaide Act 1998.
The next City of Adelaide Council election will be held in November 2026.
This election will determine the Lord Mayor and Council Members who represent the community and make decisions for the city.
Local Government elections involve more than just residents. The City of Adelaide’s broad enrolment categories include:
- Residents
- Business owners
- Landlords
- Body corporates (ratepayers eligible for enrolment)
- Groups (joint owners or occupiers of a property)
New voting rules and entitlements in 2026
Recent changes to voting entitlements for the 2026 Local Government Elections mean that body corporates and groups must nominate an eligible person — who must also be a State elector — before they can be included on the Council voters roll.
Further details about voting, enrolment and candidates will be available closer to the election period.
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2026 election key dates
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| Close of rolls | 5:00 pm, Friday 31 July 2026 |
| Candidate nominations open | Tuesday 25 August 2026 |
| Candidate nominations close | 12 noon, Tuesday 8 September 2026 |
| Voting packs are mailed out within this period | Thursday 15 October to Wednesday 21 October 2026 |
| Voting close | 5:00 pm, Wednesday 11 November 2026 |
| Scrutiny and Count | 9:00 am Saturday 14 November 2026 |