Find out when elections are held, who can vote in our next election and how to enrol. Plus find out how to become a Council Member or Mayor.

Local government elections are held every four years

The next local government election is happening in November 2026. It’s being run by the Electoral Commission of South Australia (ECSA), who are responsible for running state and local government elections.

If you would like to make a difference in your community, stand for election as a Local Government Council Member or Mayor.

During Local Government elections, if you live in, or own property in the City of Mitcham, you can vote to elect a Mayor and Council Members in your Ward.

Becoming a Council Member or Mayor

As a council member, you can help create a future that you and your community can be proud of and enjoy. If you are passionate about your local community, willing to work as part of a team, keen to learn and make a difference, you can nominate for a position on council!

To be on council, you should be passionate about your local community, be keen to learn and willing to contribute to strategic decisions for your local area.

No special qualifications or experience is required to become a council member, and it is very likely that you are eligible. In fact, most people who can vote in local elections are also eligible to run as a candidate in them.

The rules for nominating state that you must be:

• an Australian citizen
  • this includes dual citizens
• eligible to vote in your area
  • or are an officer of a body corporate nominated to vote
  • or are a member and nominee of a group that is on the council voters roll for the area.

You cannot run for council if you are:

• a State or Federal member of parliament
• not an Australian citizen
• bankrupt or receiving relief of insolvent debt
• disqualified from holding office by a court order
• a council employee of that area
• a candidate for election in another council
• a person in prison or sentenced to prison

How to enrol for the local government election

You can enrol to vote or update your details on the Electoral Commission's website.

The voters' roll for council elections has two components - the state (house of assembly) roll, and the council supplementary roll.

Check if you're on the state roll

If you’re on the state roll, ECSA will send you a council election voting pack to your registered address. You can update your residential and postal details on the Electoral Commission's website.

If you’ve moved house or changed your name and you’re on the state roll, you’ll need to fill out a new enrolment form from your local Post Office, or update your enrolment.

Check if you're on the supplementary roll

If you’re not enrolled on the state electoral roll you can register on our supplementary roll if:

• You’ve been living at your current address for one month and aren’t on the state electoral roll
• You’re the sole owner/occupier of rateable property
• You’re not an Australian citizen but you’ve been living at your current address for one month
• You’re a landlord for a rateable property
• You’re an organisation/business owner or occupier of a rateable property
• You’re a group of owners or occupiers of a rateable property

Every election year, councils must purge the supplementary roll on 1 January with legislation. If you’re a landlord, organisation, business owner or occupier, or non-Australian citizen living in our city, you’ll need to re-enrol from January 1 of every election year to vote.

To make sure that you’re enrolled on our supplementary roll contact us on 1300 133 466

FAQs