Candidates

Candidates are required to adhere to campaigning regulations as set out in the Electoral Act 2004. For information on the regulations pertaining to Election Day Campaigning, please refer to the below documents:

• Factsheet - Designated Campaign Area and 100m Prohibition Zone PDF (185.8 KB)
• Designated campaign area appointment form PDF (469.2 KB)
• NTEC Nightcliff High School - DCA Map 2026 PDF (1.6 MB)
• NTEC Nightcliff High School - Prohibition Zone Map 2026 PDF (644.6 KB)

Printed and electronic campaign and advertising material, must have an authorisation statement in a sufficient font size to be read by the intended audience, containing:

• the name and address of the person authorising the advertisement
• if a printed document, the name and address of the printing company
• if the material is double sided, the authorisation and print company must be on both sides
• the source of the funding for that material, whether a political party, candidate, associated entity, third party campaigner or otherwise.

Council and government policies regulate the placement of election signage. The following links provide information on signage guidelines and codes:

• City of Darwin - Election signage PDF (66.8 KB)
• Department of Infrastructure, Planning and Logistics - Election signage policy
• Department of Infrastructure, Planning and Logistics - Election signage policy and mobile roadside booths policy

The NTEC manage a misinformation and disinformation register. The register provides factually correct information in response to prominent false statements about electoral processes, along with any actions taken by the Commission.

For more information:

• Candidate handbook PDF (1.2 MB)
• Misinformation and disinformation register
• Prohibition of canvassing within 100 metres  PDF (554.8 KB)
• Prohibition of canvassing within 10 metres PDF (522.7 KB)

Result will be made public as soon as practicable. Results are updated throughout the various stages of the count process on this website.

Daily updates will be published on the NTEC website from the commencement of early voting and through the count period.

The NTEC makes a public declaration of election results on the Monday following the distribution of preferences.

Find out about the vote counting process in part 6 of the Candidate handbook or by visiting the how are votes counted page.

Scrutineers for candidates and parties play an important role in maintaining the integrity of the electoral system. Scrutineers observe the conduct of the election, including the counting of votes, and provide assurance that everyone has followed the electoral rules and procedures.

Candidates can appoint scrutineers to represent them during the voting and counting period.

Each candidate may appoint the following at any time:

• Voting period: one scrutineer per voting centre
• Counting period: one scrutineer per count table per centre

Complete the following form to appoint a scrutineer:

• Scrutineer appointment form PDF (305.3 KB)

Scrutineers must present their appointment forms before entering a voting or counting centre.

Scrutineers are obligated to sign a form confirming that they will not attempt to influence voters or reveal confidential information about a voter’s choice.

For more information:

• Scrutineer handbook PDF (357.5 KB)

An updated financial disclosure system was introduced in 2020 to ensure elections are transparent and free from external influence.

As a candidate, the gifts you receive and electoral expenditure you incur must be managed through a separate bank account (Territory Campaign Account).

Independent candidates must create their own account, endorsed candidates must use their party’s account.

Following the election a compliance review is undertaken to ensure electoral participants with reporting obligations have complied with the requirements of Part 10 of the Electoral Act.

Candidates must:

• submit financial disclosure returns
• disclose gifts received, including non-monetary gifts (gifts-in-kind)
• disclose electoral expenditure
• remain within the expenditure cap
• ensure loans are compliant
• maintain records.

Financial disclosure reporting arrangements differ depending on whether a candidate is independent or endorsed by a registered party.

• Independent candidates - must submit gift and expenditure returns, or they may appoint a reporting agent for financial disclosure by nominating that person in writing to the NTEC.
  • Appointment of candidate's reporting agent PDF (985.6 KB)
• Endorsed candidates - must fulfil financial disclosure reporting requirements through their party’s reporting agent. Candidates should communicate with their party for guidance on fulfilling these obligations.

Review the below schedules for information on financial returns.

• 2026 Nightcliff by-election - Electoral expenditure return schedule PDF (874.0 KB)
• 2026 Nightcliff by-election - gift returns schedule PDF (779.3 KB)
• 2026 election expenditure return non-party candidates XLSX (64.3 KB)
• 2026 Nightcliff  by-election gift return non-party candidates XLSX (70.0 KB)

Detailed fact sheets on financial disclosure obligations