Voter information

About voting

In the Northern Territory, it is compulsory for eligible voters to vote in all government elections including federal, Territory and local government elections. If you do not vote, you may receive a fine.

Voting is important as it allows you to have a say about who represents you in federal government, Territory government or local government. Governments have responsibilities for making laws and decisions about matters that affect our community including roads, health care, education and housing.

In the 2025 Local Government Elections, voters will elect representatives to their local government councils, including Mayors and Councillors, depending on the structure of their council. These elected members will be responsible for making decisions on local matters such as roads, libraries, playgrounds, community programs, and council infrastructure projects.

A total of 16 councils are participating in the 2025 elections, with 54 elections being held to fill 144 council vacancies across the Northern Territory.

Enrolment details

You can check your enrolment details online by visiting aec.gov.au

You can update your enrolment details at any time. However, during an election event, you are required to vote where you were enrolled at the close of electoral roll date. For the 2025 Local Government Elections the electoral roll closed at 5.00 pm on 22 July 2025.

Adding your email and mobile phone number to your enrolment means you will receive a reminder whenever you need to vote. If you update your enrolment details now you won’t receive notifications until the next election in the Territory where you are required to vote.

Candidates

Candidates have an important role in promoting their candidacy through campaigning and talking to people in the community. Campaign material, like corflute signs and how-to-vote cards must be correctly authorised and the NT Electoral Commission will monitor authorisations.

The declaration of candidates and draw for order on the ballot paper was held on Friday 1 August 2025. A list of candidates for the 2025 Local Government Elections is available on the NTEC website. Where a candidate has provided permission, additional information is provided.

In some elections, the number of candidates who nominated was the same as the number of vacancies. These elections are uncontested, and the candidates have been declared elected. Voters in these council or ward areas have no election and so are not required to vote.

For some elections there were not enough candidates for the number of vacancies. Those candidates who did nominate, have been declared elected. A supplementary election will be held at a later date to fill the remaining vacancies.

For the 2025 Local Government Elections, there are 34 contested elections, requiring voters to participate and vote. To find out about your council’s candidates and whether you are required to vote in the election, check the candidate summary for all councils.

Voting service and voting assistance

You can vote at an early voting centre over an 11 day period from 11 August – 22 August 2025.

Remote mobile voting and urban mobile voting services also commence from 11 August 2025.

Election day voting is open on Saturday 23 August 2025 from 8.00 am to 6.00 pm

Postal vote applications are now open, voters are encouraged to apply early for a postal vote to ensure they receive their postal voting pack on time. Postal votes must be completed by 6.00 pm on election day returned to the NT Electoral Commission by 12 noon, Friday 5 September 2025.

To find your closest voting centre visit use our online tool.

Postal voting

if you are unable to vote at a voting centre you can apply for a postal vote. Postal voting is available for all elections in the Northern Territory.

Disability access

most voting centres will have disability access available. The type of disability access for each voting centre will be listed on the NT Electoral Commission website.

Assistance voting

If you need help when voting at a voting centre our staff can help you. Staff can explain how to fill in a ballot paper, they can also complete the ballot paper to your instructions and place the ballot paper in the ballot box.

In car voting

If you have mobility issues and cannot access a voting centre, staff can assist you to vote from your car.

Unable to attend

If you are unable to attend a voting centre or receive a postal vote you must notify the NT Electoral Commission and provide a reason for not voting. If your reason is considered sufficient and reasonable this will be recorded. Please provide your reason for not voting in writing by emailing: ntec.non-voters@nt.gov.au. Please provide your enrolled name, address and date of birth so we can confirm you on the electoral roll.

Make your vote count

Plan when and where you are going to vote. Apply for a postal vote if you cannot attend a voting centre.

When you receive your ballot paper, you will receive voting instructions. Voting instructions are also written on the ballot paper. You must write the number ‘1’ next to the candidate who is your first choice.

Continue numbering the boxes in the order of your preference. For example, write the number ‘2’ next to the candidate who is your second choice; put the number ‘3’ next to your third choice and so on until there is a number against every candidate.

You can cross any mistakes you make and correct them or ask for a new ballot paper if you make multiple mistakes. If you need help, you can ask a voting official for assistance.

There is information on the NT Electoral Commission website about how to vote, including how to vote videos in English and 13 Aboriginal languages.

There is also a multi-lingual guide to voting available on the website and in voting centres.