Nominating as a candidate for election
Councils are part of your everyday, they provide roads and footpaths, parks and playgrounds, libraries, sporting facilities and much more.
The decisions about these services and facilities are made by an elected group of councillors.
Becoming a councillor gives you the chance to shape your local community as part the council team. It is a rewarding challenge - one that requires passion and leadership. It involves a commitment and a responsibility in upholding the law and giving your community confidence in local government.
Local government performs best when members of council are representative of their community. That means having different backgrounds, experiences, culture, age and gender.
There are many people in our local community who can provide strong leadership for councils. If you care about the future of your community, you can nominate for council. Becoming a councillor is one of the most direct ways that you can influence decisions that affect the quality of life in your local area.
Local Government Association - Council Elections Webpage
The Electoral Commission of SA in consultation with the Local Government Association of SA have developed a Council Elections webpage which includes a range of resources that are available to potential candidates including:
- How to nominate
- Free training for candidates
- Campaigning laws and regulations
- Running and winning your campaign
- Preparing election materials
Eligibility to Nominate
To nominate you You must be an Australian citizen over 18 years old and either enrolled to vote in the council area or be the nominee of a body corporate or group whose name appears on the voters roll for the area.
If you are not sure if you can nominate, contact the Electoral Commission of South Australia on 1300 655 232.
Electoral Material, Campaign Conduct and Complaints
As the 2027 Local Government Elections approach, prospective candidates are encouraged to become familiar with their responsibilities under the Local Government (Elections) Act 1999.
Electoral material
Section 27 of the Act sets requirements for electoral material published during the election period. Campaign material must clearly identify the person who authorised it by including their name and address. Printed material must also include the name and physical address of the printer or person who produced it.
These requirements may apply to a range of campaign communications, including flyers, brochures, newspaper advertisements, posters, signs, websites, blogs, social media advertising and sponsored online content.
Before publishing campaign material, candidates should carefully check that it meets the relevant legislative requirements.
Accurate and respectful campaigning
Section 28 of the Act prohibits the publication of electoral material that is inaccurate or misleading.
Healthy political debate, opinions and policy positions are an important part of an election campaign. However, factual claims should be accurate and able to be verified. Candidates should take particular care not to misrepresent election processes, voting requirements or nomination eligibility.
All candidates, election participants and members of the public are expected to engage respectfully with electoral officers, fellow candidates and the community, including online.
Electoral complaints
The Electoral Commission of South Australia (ECSA) is responsible for receiving and managing complaints about electoral matters under the Act, including concerns about electoral advertising and campaign communications.
Complaints should be submitted directly to ECSA in writing and include information or evidence supporting the concern. ECSA may request further information, refer a matter to another agency, seek corrective action or investigate the matter where appropriate.
Concerns about the placement or affixing of election signs on property may be directed to Council.
For further information or to lodge a complaint, visit the ECSA Feedback and Complaints page.
Further information
ECSA will release further candidate guidance, electoral advertising information and frequently asked questions as the nomination period approaches.
For election enquiries, contact ECSA’s Elections Team at ECSA.elections@sa.gov.au.