Frequently asked election questions
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About the Election
City of Adelaide Council holds periodic elections to elect the Lord Mayor and ward councillors who govern the City of Adelaide. Elections in 2026 will be conducted by postal vote, with voting papers mailed directly to eligible voters.
Polling closes at 5:00 pm on Wednesday, 11 November 2026. Ballot papers will be mailed out between 15–21 October 2026 by ECSA. The voters roll closes on 31 July 2026 at 5pm — to be included on the voters roll all applications must be received by this date.
No. Voting in City of Adelaide Council elections is voluntary. However, if you are eligible to be on the voters roll, you may be enrolled automatically or required to apply by 31 July 2026 at 5:00 pm.
The City of Adelaide operates under its own legislation — the City of Adelaide Act 1998 (SA) — which creates a broader voting framework than the State electoral roll. Voting rights are tied to your relationship with property in the City (as an owner or occupier), not just your residential address. This means some people may have voting rights in more than one ward.
The Voters Roll
The Council voters roll is a separate list of people, body corporates and groups entitled to vote in Council elections. Unlike the SA electoral roll — which covers only SA residents enrolled for State elections — the Council voters roll also includes non-resident property owners, non-resident occupiers, body corporates, and groups. The Council voters roll is managed by the City of Adelaide's CEO, not ECSA.
The CEO of the City of Adelaide is responsible for maintaining, updating and certifying the voters roll. The CEO combines the SA House of Assembly roll data (provided by ECSA) with the Council's own supplementary roll of property-based enrolments.
Maybe. If you’re enrolled to vote for SA state elections, you’ll already be enrolled to vote in SA council elections for your residential property. The Council roll is built using details provided to Council by the owner/occupier of non-residential property or residential investment property (ie. you don’t live there).
There are three different forms you can use to enrol to vote in council elections:
- Form 1 – Natural Person: For a non-resident owner/occupier who owns property in the Council area; is the only owner/occupier (tenant) and does not live or occupy that property.
- Form 2 – Body Corporate: For sole business owners or sole occupiers who occupy any type of rateable property in a council area and on the assessment record at the Council.
- Form 3 – Group Owners/Occupiers: For non-resident owner/occupier who own property jointly or occupy property as a businesses, individual person or a combination of both.
Am I Eligible to Vote? — Residents
If you are enrolled on the South Australian House of Assembly electoral roll at an address in the City of Adelaide (including North Adelaide), you are automatically enrolled on the Council voters roll. You do not need to do anything.
No. From 1 January 2026, you must be a South Australian State Elector (enrolled on the House of Assembly roll) to vote in City of Adelaide elections. Permanent residents are no longer eligible, even if they were previously enrolled. If you were enrolled in a previous election, your enrolment will not carry forward to 2026.
Note, British citizens on the South Australian House of Assembly roll prior to 26 January 1984 remain eligible to vote.
No. From 2026, you must reside in South Australia and be enrolled on the SA House of Assembly roll to be eligible. Australian citizens living interstate or overseas cannot be enrolled on the Council roll, even if they own or occupy property in the City.
NOTE: Check your enrolment on the ECSA website at ecsa.sa.gov.au/enrolment/check-my-enrolment.
Yes, if you are 18 or above and meet the other eligibility requirements, you can be enrolled and vote.
Check your enrolment on the ECSA website. If you recently enrolled or updated your address, track your enrolment on the Australian Electoral Commission website (you will need the receipt number).
Silent, itinerant or overseas electors: contact ECSA on 1300 655 232 or the ECSA on 1300 655 232.
To check if you are on the City of Adelaide Council voters roll specifically, contact the City of Adelaide Council directly via email [email protected] or (08) 8203 7203.
There is no separate minimum residency period that the Council itself applies. If you are enrolled on the SA House of Assembly roll at a residential address in the City or North Adelaide, you are automatically enrolled. The key deadline is 31 July 2026 — your enrolment must be in place by that date.
Am I Eligible? — Property Owners and Occupiers (Natural persons)
Yes, if you are the sole owner of rateable property in a ward, are a South Australian State Elector (Australian citizen on the SA House of Assembly roll), and are not a resident of that property. Apply to be enrolled using Form 1.
Yes, if you are the sole occupier of rateable property in a ward, are a South Australian State Elector, and do not reside at that property as a resident. Contact Council to discuss your circumstances or apply using Form 1.
Bodies Corporate (including Associations), Businesses and Groups
Yes, if your company (body corporate) is a ratepayer and is the sole owner or sole occupier of rateable property in a ward. However, a company cannot vote directly — a natural person who is an eligible officer must be nominated to vote on its behalf.
A natural person who is:
- an officer of the company (director, manager, secretary, public officer, or any other person who takes part in managing the company)
- authorised by the company to vote on its behalf
- enrolled on the SA House of Assembly roll
- aged 18 or over
- not already enrolled on the Council voters roll for the same ward.
The Council CEO will appoint a default person — the first eligible officer of your company alphabetically on the SA House of Assembly roll. You will be notified between 3–14 August 2026 and have until 21 August 2026 to submit a different enrolment. If no eligible person can be identified, your company will not receive a ballot paper.
If no director or officer is a South Australian resident enrolled on the SA House of Assembly roll, your company may not be able to enrol a representative and may not receive a ballot paper. Contact Council as early as possible for advice.
No. A person cannot hold two votes in the same ward. Your company must nominate a different officer (or eligible person) for that ward.
A group is formed where two or more persons (individuals, bodies corporate, companies, or a mix) are joint owners, owners in common, or joint occupiers of the same rateable property in a ward. The group is treated as a single entity and is collectively entitled to one vote — not one vote each.
Quite possibly, yes. If you are both recorded as ratepayers for the same property, you may form a group. Contact Council to confirm. As a group, you will need to identify one eligible person to vote on behalf of everyone.
Not necessarily. If you are both listed as ratepayers for the same rateable property as joint occupiers, you may form a group and collectively hold only one vote. Contact the Council for further advice.
How Voting Works
The Electoral Commission of South Australia (ECSA) conduct all council elections. All voting is conducted by postal vote. Ballot papers are mailed by ECSA to the address on the voters roll (or an alternative address you have nominated) between 15–21 October 2026.
No. A person cannot vote on behalf of another individual using a power of attorney. Each voter must cast their vote personally.
Yes, if you have a separate entitlement in each ward. You may receive separate ballot papers for each ward. You can only vote once per ward, and only once for Lord Mayor and Area Councillors regardless of how many wards you vote in.
Yes. If your name (or your body corporates or group's name) was omitted from the voters roll in error, you are still entitled to vote as if the error had not occurred. Contact ECSA as soon as possible.
This glossary explains the words and phrases used in connection with the 2026 City of Adelaide Council elections. Terms are listed in alphabetical order and written in plain English. If you need more information, contact the City of Adelaide Council on (08) 8203 7203 or the Electoral Commission of South Australia (ECSA) on 1300 655 232.
Australian Electoral Commission (AEC) | the AEC run Australia's federal elections, by-elections, referendums and some industrial and commercial events. |
Area Councillor | An elected representative who represents the broader City of Adelaide area (rather than a specific ward). Every eligible voter — resident or property-based — can vote in the Area Councillor election. |
Area Election | The election for Area Councillors and the Lord Mayor. You can only vote once in an Area election, regardless of how many properties you are enrolled for. |
Ballot Paper | The official voting document mailed to you during the election period. The Electoral Commission of South Australia (ECSA) is responsible for issuing of ballot papers. Ballot papers are sent by post between 15–21 October 2026. You must return your completed ballot paper by 5pm on Wednesday, 11 November 2026. |
Body Corporate | A legal term for a company or incorporated organisation (as opposed to an individual person). A body corporate can be enrolled on the voters roll if it is the sole owner or sole occupier of rateable property in a ward — but it cannot vote directly. It must enrol a natural person (an officer) to vote on its behalf. See also: Nominated Person, Officer. |
Body Corporate Nomination Form (Form 2) | The form a company or organisation uses to enrol an eligible officer to vote on its behalf. This form must be submitted to the City of Adelaide CEO before the roll closes at 5:00 pm on 31 July 2026. |
Candidate | A person who has nominated and can be voted into Council by the community. |
CEO (Chief Executive Officer) | The CEO of the City of Adelaide is responsible for managing and maintaining the Council voters roll. The CEO also appoints a default person to vote on behalf of any body corporate or group that fails to nominate enrol a representative before the roll closes. The CEO is also responsible to for provideing information to support voter participation, inform the community about candidates, share election outcomes, and to ensure neutrality and avoid any perceived influence by Council Members. |
City of Adelaide Act 1998 (SA) | The South Australian law that sets out the rules for City of Adelaide Council elections, including who is eligible to vote, how enrolment works, and the nomination enrolment process for companies and groups. |
Compulsory Voting | Voting in City of Adelaide Council elections is NOT compulsory — it is voluntary. However, if you are eligible, you may be automatically enrolled to vote.. |
Council Voters Roll | The official list of people entitled to vote in City of Adelaide Council elections. It is separate from the State electoral roll and is managed by the Council's CEO. It includes residents (drawn from the House of Assembly roll) as well as non-resident property owners, companiesbodies corporate, and groups. |
Councillor | An elected representative of a ward or the broader City area. The 2026 election will determine the Lord Mayor and all ward and area councillors. |
Default Appointment | If a body corporate or group does not enrol a voting representative before the roll closes (31 July 2026), the Council CEO will appoint one on their behalf — this is called a default appointment. Default notices will be issued between 3–14 August 2026. Entities then have until 21 August 2026 to submit a different nomination if they wish. |
Default Person | The natural person appointed by the CEO to vote on behalf of a body corporate or group when no enrolment has been received. For a body corporate, the CEO typically uses ASIC records to identify the first eligible officer alphabetically. For a group, the CEO uses Council records. |
ECSA — see Electoral Commission of South Australia (ECSA) | The SA government body that manages the South Australian House of Assembly electoral roll. ECSA provides voter data to the Council CEO and manages the dispatch of ballot papers. For enrolment help, call ECSA on 1300 655 232. |
Election | An organised and democratic process. |
Elector | A person who has the right to vote in an election. |
Electoral Commission of South Australia (ECSA) | ECSA are an independent office which forms part of the South Australian Government. ECSA conducts parliamentary state, and local council general elections every four years. |
Eligible Person | A person who meets all the requirements to vote on behalf of a body corporate or group. They must be: aged 18 or over; enrolled on the SA House of Assembly roll (a State Elector); an officer or member of the relevant body corporate or group; and not already enrolled in the same ward in their own right. |
Enrolled Person | The eligible person chosen by a body corporate or group to vote on their behalf. The enrolled person must be an officer or member of the entity, a State Elector, aged 18 or over, and not already enrolled in the same ward in their own right. |
Enrolment | The process of being added to the Council voters roll. Residents enrolled on the SA House of Assembly roll at a City of Adelaide address are enrolled automatically. Non-resident property owners, companies, and groups must apply using the relevant form. All applications must be received by 5pm, 31 July 2026. |
Form 1 — Natural Person Application | The form used by an individual (natural person) who is a non-resident sole owner or non-resident sole occupier (tenant) of a rateable property to apply to be enrolled on the voters roll. A separate form is required for each property in a different ward. |
Form 2 — Body Corporate Nomination | The form used by a company or organisation to enrol an eligible officer to vote on its behalf. Must be received by 5pm, 31 July 2026. |
Form 3 — Group Nomination | The form used where two or more people, companies, or a combination are joint owners or joint occupiers of the same rateable property. One eligible person is enrolled to vote on behalf of the whole group. Must be received by 5pm, 31 July 2026. |
Group | Where two or more people, companies, or a combination of both jointly own or jointly occupy the same rateable property, they are treated as a group for voting purposes. The group as a whole has one vote, and must enrol one eligible person to cast it. |
Group Name | A group can choose to apply for an official name on the voters roll. The name must end with the word 'Group'. The Council CEO can reject names that are obscene or frivolous. |
Group Occupier | Two or more people or companies that together occupy (but do not own) the same rateable property as tenants. The group has one vote between them. |
Group Owner | Two or more people or companies that together own the same rateable property. This includes a head lessee who is not in occupation. The group has one vote between them. |
Head Lessee | A person or entity that holds a lease over a property and sub-leases it to others. A head lessee who is NOT in occupation of the property is treated as an owner (not an occupier) for voting purposes. |
House of Assembly Roll (HoA Roll) | The South Australian State electoral roll — the official list of people eligible to vote in State elections. Being enrolled on the HoA roll is a requirement for voting in City of Adelaide Council elections and is managed by ECSA. |
Joint occupier | Your property is jointly occupied by businesses, individual people or a combination of both. |
Joint owner | Your property is jointly owned by businesses, individual people or a combination of both. |
Local Government Association of South Australia (LGA) | The LGA is the peak representative body for local government in South Australia. |
Lord Mayor | The directly elected head of the Adelaide City Council. All eligible voters — regardless of ward — can vote for the Lord Mayor. |
Lord Mayor Election | The election for the position of Lord Mayor. Held at the same time as the ward and area councillor elections. Every enrolled voter can participate. |
Natural Person | An individual human being, as distinct from a company or organisation. For voting purposes, only a natural person can actually cast a vote — companies and groups must enrol a natural person to vote on their behalf. |
Non-Resident Occupier | A person (or entity) who occupies rateable property in the City of Adelaide as a tenant but does not live there as their home. A non-resident occupier may apply to be enrolled to vote in respect of that property, provided they are a State Elector. |
Non-Resident Owner | A person (or entity) who owns rateable property in the City of Adelaide but does not live there. A non-resident owner may apply to be enrolled to vote in respect of that property, provided they are a State Elector. |
Occupier | A person or entity that occupies (uses as a tenant) rateable property in the City of Adelaide. Occupiers may be eligible to enrol to vote if they meet the other requirements (e.g. being a State Elector, or — for companies and groups — enrolling an eligible person). |
Officer (of a Body Corporate) | A director, manager, secretary, public officer, or any other person who takes part in the management of a company's affairs. Only officers of a body corporate can be enrolled to vote on its behalf. |
Our Council area or City of Adelaide (CoA) | City of Adelaide council covers Adelaide CBD and North Adelaide (post codes 5000 and 5006). |
Owner | A person, company, or group that holds legal ownership of rateable property in the City of Adelaide. Property owners who do not live at the property may be eligible to enrol to vote in the ward where the property is located. |
Periodic | Something that happens from time-to-time. For example, a City of Adelaide general election happens every four years. |
Permanent Resident | A person who lives in Australia permanently but is not an Australian citizen. From 1 January 2026, permanent residents are no longer eligible to vote in City of Adelaide Council elections, even if they were enrolled and voted in previous elections. |
Polling Day | The deadline for returning your completed ballot paper. For the 2026 election, polling closes at 5pm on Wednesday, 11 November 2026. There is no in-person polling place — all voting is by post. |
Postal Vote | All voting in City of Adelaide Council elections is by post. Ballot packs are mailed by ECSA to enrolled voters between 15–21 October 2026. Completed ballot papers must be returned to ECSA by 5pm on 11 November 2026. There is no physical polling booth to attend. |
Rateable Property | Property in the City of Adelaide that is subject to local government rates. This is the category of property used to determine voting eligibility for non-resident owners, occupiers, companies, and groups. Your right to enrol is tied to a specific rateable property address. |
Resident | A person who lives in the City of Adelaide and is enrolled on the SA House of Assembly roll at that address. Residents are automatically enrolled on the Council voters roll — no application is needed. Residents can vote in their ward councillor election, the area councillor election, and the Lord Mayor election. |
Returning Officer | The independent ECSA official responsible for overseeing the conduct of the election, including ballot paper dispatch, counting, and scrutiny. If you believe your name was omitted from the voters roll in error, contact the Returning Officer at ECSA as soon as possible. |
Roll Close | The deadline after which no new enrolments can be accepted. For the 2026 election, the roll closes at 5pm on Friday, 31 July 2026. |
Scrutiny & Count | The counting of votes which leads to the election result. |
Sole Occupier | A single person or entity that occupies a rateable property to the substantial exclusion of others (i.e. not sharing occupation). Both natural persons and body corporates can be sole occupiers. A sole occupier who does not live at the property may be eligible to enrol to vote. |
Sole Owner | A single person or entity that is the only owner of a rateable property. Both natural persons and body corporates can be sole owners. |
State (House of Assembly) electoral roll | A list of eligible voters recorded by the State Government. |
State Elector | A person enrolled on the South Australian House of Assembly electoral roll. Being a State Elector is a requirement for voting in City of Adelaide Council elections. You must be an Australian citizen to be a State Elector. Permanent residents, temporary visa holders, and Australian citizens living interstate or overseas do not (generally) qualify. NOTE: British citizens who were enrolled on the House of Assembly electoral roll before 25 January 1984 remain enrolled and eligible to vote. |
Voters Roll | See: Council Voters Roll. The official list of people entitled to vote in City of Adelaide Council elections, maintained by the Council CEO. |
Voting in More Than One Ward | You may be entitled to vote in more than one ward if you have separate qualifying relationships in each ward — for example, as a resident in one ward and a property owner in another. However, you can only vote once per ward and only in one capacity per election. |
Ward | A geographic division of the City of Adelaide for the purpose of council elections. Your ward determines which ward councillor election you vote in. The City of Adelaide has three wards: North, Central, and South. |
Ward Councillor | An elected representative of a specific ward. You vote for the ward councillor(s) of the ward in which your enrolment is based — either your residential address or your property address. |
Ward Election | The election for Ward Councillors. You can only vote once in the Ward election for each ward you are enrolled in. |