Elections Overview

The next Local Government Election for the City of Unley will be held in November 2026 to elect a Mayor and twelve Elected Members for the 2026–2030 Council term.

Council elections are a statutory process conducted under the Local Government Act 1999. The election is administered by the Electoral Commission of South Australia (ECSA), with Council responsible for supporting voter enrolment, providing election information, and meeting governance and legislative obligations throughout the election period.

This page will be updated regularly as the election progresses, with key information about enrolment, nominations, voting, candidates and results. While the Electoral Commission manages voting, counting and declaration of results, Council supports the election through communications, customer enquiries, and compliance with legislative requirements.

The rules for elections are set out in the Local Government (Elections) Act 1999 - an act of the South Australian Parliament.

Key Dates

Council Election Process

Council Elections are broken up into three main phases being Enrol, Nominate and Vote.

Enrol

To vote in the City of Unley Council Elections, eligible electors must be correctly enrolled on the voters roll.

This may include residents, non‑resident property owners and, where applicable, nominated representatives for businesses or organisations. Eligible electors are encouraged to check their enrolment details to ensure they are recorded correctly.

Nominate

Eligible persons enrolled on the voters roll may nominate as a candidate for Mayor or Councillor.

Nominations are submitted directly to the Electoral Commission of South Australia (ECSA). Council provides neutral information and support to candidates throughout the nomination period, including a public candidate briefing session.

Vote

The City of Unley Council Election is conducted as a postal election.

Voting materials are mailed to enrolled voters, who complete their ballot papers by following the instructions provided and return them directly to ECSA using the reply‑paid envelope. Voting in council elections is not compulsory.

Candidate Information

Following the close of nominations, candidate details will be made publicly available in accordance with legislative requirements.

This includes candidate names and profiles as provided to ECSA.