2009 Tasmanian local elections

The 2009 Tasmanian local elections were held in October 2009 to elect the councils, mayors and deputy mayors of the 29 local government areas (LGAs) in Tasmania, Australia.^[3][4]

2009 Tasmanian local elections

← 2007 13–27 October 2009 2011 →
Registered	362,890[1]
Turnout	55.54% ( 1.89)[2]

The elections for Break O'Day and Glamorgan–Spring Bay were delayed until December 2009 to allow for the councils to consider a voluntary merger, which ultimately did not occur.^[5][6]

Electoral system

Voting in Tasmanian local elections was not compulsory in 2009.^[7] All voting is held via post, and the elections are conducted by the Tasmanian Electoral Commission (TEC).^[8]

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.^[9] Mayors and deputy mayors are elected using preferential voting, which is also used for Tasmanian Legislative Council elections.^[9] The Robson Rotation is used to rotate the order in which candidate names appear on ballot papers.^[10]

Candidates were required to have council experience to run for the positions of mayor or deputy mayor (a rule which was removed for the 2014 local elections).^[11] Half of all councillors were up for election every two years (as part of the "half-in, half-out" system), while all mayors and deputy mayors had two-year terms.^[12][13]

Candidates

A total of 316 candidates nominated for a total of 150 councillor positions, 55 candidates nominated for 29 mayoral positions and 78 candidates nominated for 29 deputy mayoral positions.^[1] 11 mayoral positions and two deputy mayoral positions were uncontested.^[1]

The Greens continued to endorse candidates in a number of LGAs.^[14] The Labor Party and Liberal Party did not endorse any candidates.^[15][16]

References

1. "Local Government Election Report 2009" (PDF). Tasmanian Electoral Commission. April 2010. Archived from the original (PDF) on 19 October 2024. Retrieved 1 January 2025.
2. "Local Government Election Report 2011" (PDF). Tasmanian Electoral Commission. Archived from the original (PDF) on 28 December 2024. Retrieved 28 December 2024.
3. Raue, Ben (6 October 2009). "Tasmanian local council elections". The Tally Room. Archived from the original on 1 January 2025. Retrieved 1 January 2025.
4. "Local election nominations close". ABC News. 23 November 2009. Archived from the original on 1 January 2025. Retrieved 1 January 2025.
5. "Councils' merger up for debate". ABC News. 4 July 2009. Archived from the original on 1 January 2025. Retrieved 1 January 2025.
6. "Future of Local Government Review" (PDF). Break O'Day Council. August 2023. Archived from the original (PDF) on 24 October 2024. Retrieved 1 January 2025.
7. Langenberg, Adam (11 October 2022). "Tasmania's first local election with compulsory voting has been hotly fought". ABC News. Archived from the original on 29 February 2024. Retrieved 16 November 2024.
8. Cooper-Douglas, Erin (2 October 2022). "Voting in Tasmania's local council elections is now compulsory. Here's what you need to know". ABC News. Archived from the original on 17 September 2024. Retrieved 16 November 2024.
9. "Ways to vote". Tasmanian Electoral Commission. Archived from the original on 16 October 2024. Retrieved 16 November 2024.
10. "A discussion paper on Robson rotation in Tasmania" (PDF). Tasmanian Electoral Commission. April 2008. Archived from the original (PDF) on 22 October 2024. Retrieved 16 November 2024.
11. "Tasmania's local government candidates make last ditch effort to win over voters". ABC News. 19 October 2014. Archived from the original on 28 December 2024. Retrieved 28 December 2024.
12. "Tas local councils condemn Govt bid to change elections". ABC News. 10 May 2004. Archived from the original on 28 December 2024. Retrieved 28 December 2024.
13. "Greater Democracy for Local Government". Tasmanian Times. 12 September 2014. Archived from the original on 28 December 2024. Retrieved 28 December 2024.
14. Raue, Ben (28 October 2009). "Tasmanian council results". The Tally Room. Archived from the original on 1 January 2025. Retrieved 1 January 2025.
15. "ALP backs council candidates". ABC News. 23 August 2011. Archived from the original on 28 December 2024. Retrieved 28 December 2024.
16. Bonham, Kevin (2 November 2011). "Hobart Council: blues take the reins". Tasmanian Times. Archived from the original on 28 December 2024. Retrieved 28 December 2024.