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Local government general elections
The next local government general election (Council Election) will be conducted on Saturday 26 October 2024 by postal ballot. Voting is compulsory.
See our Council Election page for more details.
Prior to every Council Election, Council enters the ‘Election Period’. In the past, Election Period was commonly referred to as Caretaker Mode.
The purpose of the Election Period is to avoid actions and decisions which could be seen to be influencing voters or which will have a significant impact on the incoming Council.
The Local Government Act 2020 (the Act) defines the Election Period as being the period that starts at the time nominations close on nomination day and ends at 6pm on election day. For the 2024 election, the Election Period will run from 12.00 pm Tuesday 17 September to 6.00 pm Saturday 26 October.
Election Period Policy
In accordance with the requirements of the Act, Council is required to include an Election Period Policy in its Governance Rules.
To ensure the community is informed and aware of the proposed provisions that will apply during the 2024 Election Period, the updated Election Period Policy can be viewed below.
Council’s existing Election Period Policy was last adopted on 25 August 2020. The policy has now been reviewed in preparation for the 2024 election.
The purpose of an Election Period Policy is to provide guidance to Councillors, Council staff and candidates in the lead up to a Council Election and provides a framework for decisions prohibited by the Council during the Election Period in accordance with the Act, and the procedures to be applied by Council during the Election Period.
Its provisions are intended to assist Councillors and Officers to continue to conduct ordinary matters of administration that need to be addressed in the lead up to an election, while maintaining public confidence in an unbiased election process.
The updated Election Period Policy was presented to Council for consideration and adoption at the Council Meeting on Tuesday 9 April 2024.