Political parties

The NT Electoral Commission must be advised if there are changes to a political party name, registered officer, reporting agent, or constitution.

To advise the NT Electoral Commission please complete the following form that is relevant to you and provide to the commission:

• Advise of new party constitution PDF (1.5 MB)
• Appointment of party reporting agent PDF (1.3 MB)
• Change registered officer details PDF (1.5 MB)

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)

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

During voting hours, campaigning activities are not allowed within:

• 10 metres of the entrance to an early voting centre
• 100 metres of the entrance to an election day voting centre.

A number of landlords (especially in shopping centres) do not allow campaigning at their venues. Campaigning will not be permitted at these venues.

On election day, designated campaign areas may be specified within the 100-metre prohibition zone.

The NTEC will provide written notice to all candidates about the designated campaign area, and if there are any uncertainties, campaigners should consult with the voting centre manager.

Maps will be displayed at election day voting centres clearly showing the boundaries.

Complete the following form to campaign within a designated campaign area:

• Designated campaign area appointment form PDF (463.5 KB)

For more information:

• 2024 Territory Election - Voting  centre campaigning and prohibition zones
• Prohibition of canvassing within 100 metres PDF (554.8 KB)
• Prohibition of canvassing within 10 metres PDF (522.7 KB)
• 2024 Territory Election - Candidate handbook PDF (614.5 KB)

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

Parties must keep a separate bank account (Territory Campaign Account ‘TCA’) with an Authorised Deposit-taking Institution (ADI) for electoral purposes. All election expenditure must be paid from the TCA, and any gifts intended for electoral purposes must be transferred into the TCA as soon as practicable.

Parties 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.

The party's registered officer must appoint a reporting agent for financial disclosure. If no appointment is in force for a registered party, the registered officer of the party is taken to be the reporting agent.

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 parties XLSX (65.2 KB)
• 2026 Nightcliff by-election gift return combined party candidates XLSX (74.3 KB)

Detailed fact sheets on financial disclosure obligations

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.