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.

Six supplementary elections will be held for five local government councils following the 2025 Local Government Elections.

The supplementary elections are required to fill the six remaining vacancies following the 2025 Local Government elections, where there were insufficient candidates for the number of vacancies in the following council wards:

It is a requirement that the electoral roll used for the 2025 Local Government Elections is used for the supplementary elections, the close of roll was 22 July 2025.

Electors for the supplementary elections must be enrolled or have an entitlement to vote at the close of roll.

In the 2025 Supplementary elections, voters will be elect representatives for the 5 remaining council ward vacancies in five local government councils.  Elected members are responsible for making decisions on local matters including roads, libraries, community programs and council infrastructure.

Enrolment details

You can check your enrolment details online by visiting Australian Electoral Commission website.

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 Supplementary 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 will be held on Friday 7 November 2025.

A list of candidates for the 2025 Local Government Supplementary Elections will be available on the NTEC website on Friday 7 November 2025. Where a candidate has provided permission, additional information is provided.

Voting service and voting assistance

You can vote at an early voting centre over a 10 day period from 17 November – 28 November 2025.

Remote mobile voting and urban mobile voting services also commence from 17 November 2025.

Election day voting is open on Saturday 29 November 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 12 December 2025.

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.