Council Elections

Local Government is an important part of the democratic framework of Australia. The community elect their council representatives every four years, with the next Council Election to be held in November 2026.

Adelaide Hills Council is holding a Supplementary Election in 2025 to fill two Valleys Ward and one Ranges Ward Councillor vacancies.

A supplementary election in local government is held to fill a vacancy that occurs between regular election cycles. These elections ensure that the council remains fully represented and can continue to function effectively.

The Electoral Commissioner oversees supplementary elections in South Australia, ensuring they are conducted fairly and transparently.

Key dates:

Enrolling to vote

The voters roll for the 2025 Adelaide Hills Council Valleys and Ranges Ward Supplementary Election closes at 5pm on Monday 30 June 2025.

If you are already on the state electoral roll (in your council area) and vote in state elections, you are automatically included on the council voters roll.

To learn more about eligibility, visit the Enrol for Council Elections page of the South Australia Australian Electoral Commission website.

If you are not enrolled on the state electoral roll, you may be eligible to register on the council supplementary roll if you are:

• a resident or a non-Australian citizen who has lived at your residential address for one month or more
• an owner of an organisation or business
• an owner of a holiday home
• a sole owner, or group of owners, of a rateable property
• a sole occupier, or group of occupiers, of a rateable property
• a landlord of rateable property.

In accordance with section 15(5a) of the Local Government (Elections) Act 1999, council must purge the council's supplementary roll on 1 January of every election year. Therefore, all landlords, organisations, business owners or occupiers, and resident non-Australian citizens, must re-enrol from January 1 of every election year to be eligible to vote, (with the exception of the City of Adelaide).

If you are unsure whether you are enrolled on the council supplementary roll, please contact governanceandperformance@ahc.sa.gov.au.

Voting in the Supplementary Election

All voting in council elections is by postal ballot.
Enrolled voters will receive a voting package directly through the mail including ballot paper and a reply-paid envelope.
Ballot papers will be delivered to the enrolled address from Tuesday 26 August until Monday 1 September 2025.
Your ballot papers must be completed and received by the Electoral Commission of SA by 12:00 pm, Monday 22 September 2025.

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, nominate for a position on council.

• Nominations open 24 July 2025.
• Nominations close 12 noon, Thursday 7 August 2025.
• Candidate Information Sessions are being held for each Ward:
• Ranges Ward Candidate Information Session: Wednesday 23 July, 6 pm - 8 pm, Council Chambers, 63 Mount Barker Rd, Stirling.
• Valleys Ward Candidate Information Session: Thursday 24 July, 6 pm - 8 pm, Fabrik, Lobethal Rd, Lobethal.
• Register your attendance at the Candidate Information Session via email to governanceandperformance@ahc.sa.gov.au

For more information, visit:

• Electoral Commission Ranges Ward Councillor
• Electoral Commission Valleys Ward Councillor

Further information about recent changes to the Local Government (Elections) Act 1999, is available on the Local Government Association of South Australia website at the link below.

For more information about nominating or voting in council elections, please visit the Electoral Commission website.