2018 Tasmanian local elections explained

Election Name:2018 Tasmanian local elections
Country:Tasmania
Type:parliamentary
Ongoing:no
Previous Election:2014 Tasmanian local elections
Previous Year:2014
Election Date:8–30 October 2018
Next Election:2022 Tasmanian local elections
Next Year:2022
Turnout:58.70%
Leader1:N/A
Party1:Independents
Leader2:Will Hodgman
Party2:Liberal Party of Australia (Tasmanian Division)
Leader3:Rebecca White
Party3:Australian Labor Party (Tasmanian Branch)
Leader4:Cassy O'Connor
Party4:Tasmanian Greens
Seats4:6 seats
Leader5:Cory Bernardi
Party5:Conservatives
Popular Vote5:112
Seats5:0 seats
Seat Change5:-->

The 2018 Tasmanian local elections were held in October 2018 to elect the councils of the 29 local government areas (LGAs) in Tasmania, Australia. Councils also held mayoral and deputy mayoral elections.[1]

This was the last time voting in Tasmanian local elections was voluntary, with compulsory voting introduced in 2022.[2] Polls opened on 8 October and closed on Tuesday, 30 October.[3]

Electoral system

Councillor elections are conducted using a slightly modified version of the Hare-Clark electoral system, which is also used for Tasmanian House of Assembly elections.[3] Mayors and deputy mayors are elected using preferential voting, which is used for Tasmanian Legislative Council elections.[3]

The Robson Rotation is used to rotate the order in which candidate names appear on ballot papers. All voting in Tasmanian local elections is conducted by post.[3]

Elections timeline

Party changes before elections

A number of councillors joined or left parties before the 2018 elections.

Council Councillor Former party New party Date
HobartAnna Reynolds Greens Independent2 June 2018
HobartMarti Zucco Independent Your Hobart21 August 2018

Campaign

Holly Ewin, an endorsed Greens candidate for Hobart, resigned from the party on 20 October after voting had begun.[4] She stated that she "[does] not believe the state party is acting in accordance with its founding principle of grassroots democracy".[4]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Local Government Elections 2018 . Tasmanian Electoral Commission.
  2. Web site: Voting in Tasmania's local council elections is now compulsory. Here's what you need to know . ABC News.
  3. Web site: Tips about marking your ballot paper for local government elections . Tasmanian Electoral Commission.
  4. Web site: HCC Greens candidate Holly Ewin leaves party on election eve . The Mercury.