Voter information

About voting

Voting is important as it allows you to have a say about who represents you in federal government, Territory government or local government.

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.

The Northern Territory covers approximately 1,420,000 square kilometres and has 25 Legislative Assembly divisions; each represented by one elected member of the Legislative Assembly.

Key election dates

For more information, go to the timetable page.

How we will keep you up updated

Where electors have included their contact details on the electoral roll, the NT Electoral Commission will use these details to contact electors during elections.

Due to the short turnaround of a by‑election, the NTEC will increase the frequency of communications by utilising mobile numbers and email addresses provided on the electoral roll to contact voters.

Key election communications include:

• checking your enrolment
• applying for a postal vote
• when voting services commence and during the voting period
• reminder to postal voters to complete their postal votes by 6pm on election day.

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 2026 Nightcliff By-election the electoral roll closed at 5pm, Friday 13 February 2026.

Adding your email and mobile phone number to your enrolment means you will receive a reminder whenever you need 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 will be held at 12 noon, Thursday 19 February 2026. A list of candidates for the 2026 Nightcliff By-election will be published on the NT Electoral Commission website following the public declaration. Candidate information such as contact information will only be provided where a candidate has provided permission to publish this information.

Voting service and voting assistance

There will be one election day voting centre in the Division of Nightcliff and one early voting centre.

You can vote at an early voting centre within published voting centre opening hours between Monday 23 February 2026 and Friday 6 March 2026. Check the voting centre hours.

Election day voting is open on Saturday 7 March 2026 from 8am to 6pm.

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 20 March 2026.

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.

Provide your reason for not voting in writing by emailing ntec.non-voters@nt.gov.au. Provide your enrolled name, address, date of birth and election name 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.