Council is made up of 9 councillors, including 1 mayor and 1 deputy mayor.
Council elections are held every four years and all councillors, the mayor and deputy mayor are elected for four-year terms.
The next local government elections are due to be held across September and October 2022 commencing with publishing of the notice of election on 3 September, 2022.
The Tasmanian Electoral Commission is responsible for the supervision of local government elections. The Electoral Commission appoints returning officers to run the election.
Candidates
Prospective candidates are referred to the Electoral Commission 2022 Candidate Information handbook at: https://www.tec.tas.gov.au/local-government/elections-2022
A limited number of hard copy handbooks are also available from the Council’s Customer Service Centre at 40 Main Street, Huonville.
If prospective candidates have any questions for the Council during the election period they are referred to the process set out in the Council’s Election and Caretaker Period Policy, GOV-CORP 021 FINAL Election and Caretaker Period Policy GOV-Corp 021.pdf
Advertising and Election Signs
For State Government requirements on advertising and electoral signs please refer to page 14 to 20 of the Candidate Information Handbook.
There are also rules on where an electoral sign may and may not be placed as provided in By-laws and the Planning Scheme.
This information is available in the Electoral Signs Huon Valley Requirement document at the following link: Electoral Signage – Council requirements.pdf
2022 COUNCIL ELECTIONS
2022 Election Timetable (key dates)
Notice of election to be published | Saturday 3 September |
Electoral rolls close at 6.00 pm | Thursday 8 September |
Nomination period | 5 September – 19 September |
Nominations close at 12 noon | Monday 19 September |
Nominations announced at 12 noon | Tuesday 20 September |
Ballot material posted to electors | 3 – 7 October |
Polling period | 3 – 25 October |
Close of poll at 2:00 pm | Tuesday 25 October |
Results released as available | 26 October – 2 November |
Voting system
Council elections are conducted by postal ballot.
All elections for councillor positions are required to be conducted by using a multi-member proportional representation electoral system. This is directly modelled on the Hare-Clarke system used for Tasmanian House of Assembly elections.
A feature of the Hare-Clarke electoral system is that vacant seats are filled by recount rather than by elections.
Under the postal ballot system there is a polling period rather than a single polling day.
Compulsory voting
For the first time voting at the 2022 Local Government elections is compulsory for all eligible electors on the State roll.
Please note that compulsory voting does not extend to electors on the General Manager’s (GM) roll.
New close time and results timeframe
The close of poll has been extended from the traditional 10am until 2pm on the close of poll day.
Given the planned compulsory voting education and election promotion campaign, this change will support the expected late surge in returned ballot packs and supplementary issuing on that final day, allowing electors that last chance to drop their ballot packs back to Councils over their lunch break.
Enrolment information
If you are currently on the State Electoral Roll for State and Federal Elections for your address in the Huon Valley Municipal Area you are automatically on the Local Government Roll.
To check your enrolment on the Electoral Roll please visit the Australian Electoral Commission (AEC) website at www.aec.gov.au and click on the “Check Enrolment” button. An enrolment form can also be obtained from that website or by calling the AEC on 132 326 or from any post office.
You are also eligible to enrol on the “General Manager’s Roll” if you:
- Own land within the municipal area, but you do not live in the area and are registered on the State Electoral Roll at the address outside of the area, or
- Occupy land within the municipal area, but are not eligible to be on the State roll for the area –
Enrolment Form (General Manager’s Roll – Individual) or - Are the nominated representative of a corporate body that owns or occupies land in the Huon Valley – Enrolment Form (General Manager’s Roll – Corporate)