Winning your campaign
Council elections are much smaller than federal or state elections which means, they can be decided by just a handful of votes. Typically, winning candidates receive between a couple of hundred or a couple of thousand votes.
On this page:
How many votes are required to win?
How many votes you need depends on how many vacancies are available. As a rough estimate, you can refer to the raw numbers those past winners received in previous years.
If there is only one opening, you need to look at the rates of the top candidate.
If there are three spots available then you have some more leniency, and can look at what the second and third candidate received.
All this information is available on Electoral Commission SA (ECSA).
After the voting period closes
Once the voting period has closed, votes will be counted. The election results will be published on ECSA and potentially, news outlets and social media.
You can find out if you are elected when the results are published on ECSA's website.
Once the election is finalised, the council’s Chief Executive Officer (CEO) will advise you when the next council meeting is.
You will be given at least three days notice of this meeting. It may be almost straight away or could be up to three weeks after.
What happens if you get elected?
Getting elected is an important step in shaping the future of your community and council area. There will be a lot to learn as a new council member.
As a start, it will be valuable to read and familiarise yourself with:
- The Local Government Act 1999 and regulations
- Council’s organisational structure
- Council's strategic management plan
- Council's policies and procedures
- The current budget and budget proposals for next year
- The current annual report.
Most of this information can be found on your council’s website.
Your induction to council
The council’s CEO will arrange an orientation and induction for the newly elected council. Your induction may include:
- information about local government, your role and responsibilities
- information on how your council is structured and operates
- a tour of the council area and facilities.
- an introduction to key staff members.
- a council workshop with other council members, the CEO and key staff.
In your induction, you may get copies of council strategies, plans and policies, and legislation.
Declaring yourself a councillor
Once you have been elected, you must make a Declaration of Office before you are officially on the council.
This is a formal declaration to carry out your duties to the best of your ability. It is signed in front of a Justice of the Peace. This occurs at or before your first council meeting.
Each council has its own procedure for this ceremony. You may be asked to wear robes, read the declaration aloud or to give a short speech.
You must also complete declarations about yourself and your interests via the following official forms:
- a primary return (of your financial and other interests)
- an ordinary return (an update of changes to the primary return) each year.
The primary return must be completed within six weeks of the conclusion of the election. The CEO will brief you on the procedure as it applies to your council.
For transparency and accountability, your returns will be accessible to the public on a register of interests. This is published on your council website.
Your training & development
The Local Government Act 1999 requires each council to have a training and development policy for council members to help you do your duties.
The Act requires council members to do regular training that aligns with council’s policy and that complies with the LGA Training Standards.
You must complete mandatory training within the first 12 months of your four-year term. Mandatory training will cover topics such as:
- the role and function of local government and council
- behavioural requirements
- legal responsibilities
- strategic planning
- decision making
- council and committee meetings
- financial management and reporting.
Being an effective council member takes time. Seek out ways to continue to learn throughout your term on council. The LGA offer a range of on-going learning opportunities that can help you.
