Voting in Local Government Elections
You can make it all happen by voting in the election!
While the vote is later this year in November, we all know how quickly time passes.
Voting can make all the difference! Just one vote can help decide who gets to sit at the table, what gets funded, and what priorities are taken seriously. It can help influence many things in your neighbourhood like where housing and businesses are allowed, and even how your community prepares for climate change.
We’ll make sure you have plenty of reminders and information before it’s time to vote, but filling in your vote is your way to help make Burnside better!
The first thing is to Enrol to Vote! Make sure you enrol by July 2026 to get your voting papers sent to you on time.
How you can Enrol to vote
Not sure if you're already enrolled to vote in Council elections?
The good news is, its really quick and easy to check. If you are enrolled for state and federal elections, you're automatically enrolled for local council ones too. Great!
But, if you've moved house, changed your name, or just turned 18 you'll need to make sure your details are up to date. Just go to ecsa.sa.gov.au/enrolment to find out, and you're done! That was easy.
Do you live elsewhere but own a property in Burnside?
You might be eligible to vote in both places, but, your enrolment for the Burnside Council (or another area) where you pay rates is not automatic. You will need to apply for this voting entitlement.
Applications for the 2026 electoral roll will be accepted after 1 January 2026 and close in July 2026, to be included on the roll you will need to complete the appropriate application form, be a State Elector and submit the form to the council.
The application forms will be available in January 2026.
We will process your application and let you know if you have been added to the roll.
How are Council Elections different to other elections?
Local Council elections don’t use polling booths like the general elections. Instead, your voting papers will be sent to you in the post.
So, if you’re not on the roll at the right address, your vote won’t reach you in time. That’s why it’s important to check now if you are enrolled.
A few weeks before election day (11 November), you’ll get your voting papers in the mail. Once your voting papers are filled out, you can send them back in two ways: by posting them in an Australia Post box or by dropping them off at the ballot box located at Council’s Customer Service Centre during opening hours.