Candidates

A person can be a candidate for election in a Territory Legislative Assembly election if at the date of nomination they are:

• an Australian citizen
• 18 years of age or older
• entitled, or qualified to become entitled, to vote at Legislative Assembly elections
• a resident within the Commonwealth for at least 6 months and within the Territory for at least 3 months.

As per Section 20 of the Northern Territory (Self-Government) Act 1978.

A person may be nominated as a candidate for election for a division by:

• six electors entitled to vote at the election in the division the candidate wishes to contest; or
• if a person is nominated as the party candidate of a registered party for that division, the registered officer of a registered political party.

The candidate handbook (PDF 407KB) outlines responsibilities and requirements for anyone interested in becoming a candidate.

Once you are familiar with these requirements you can complete the following form that is relevant to you:

• Endorsed candidate nomination form (PDF 136KB)
• Independent candidate nomination form (PDF 194KB)

At the time of nominating, candidates must submit a deposit of $500 by cash or electronic transfer. A personal cheque will not be accepted as per Regulation 3A.

The deposit is refunded if:

• the candidate is elected, or
• the candidate receives more 20% of the total number of first preference votes cast the elected candidate, or
• the candidate gives written notice withdrawing their nomination before 12:00 noon on the day nominations close.

Nominations can only be lodged after the close of the electoral roll and before 12:00 noon on the day nominations close.

A nomination form, deposit and photo may be lodged at a NT Electoral Commission office in Darwin or emailed.

Candidate nominations must include a photo of the nominee, meeting the following standards:

• black and white, full faced vertical portrait of the nominee's head and shoulders
• has been taken within six months before lodgement
• has been endorsed and certified on the reverse by the nominee.

The Electoral Commissioner may accept a photograph which does not comply with the requirements of the nominee’s photograph for nomination.

Regulation 3 details the requirements of the nominees photograph

A candidate may withdraw from an election by completing the withdrawal form (PDF 185KB).

The withdrawal must be given to the NT Electoral Commission before 12:00 noon on the day nominations close.

To appoint a scrutineer a candidate must complete the scrutineer appointment form (PDF 305KB) and provide it to the officer-in-charge of the voting or counting centre.

Please read

• Campaign advertising and authorisation (PDF 685KB)
• Prohibition of canvassing within 100 metres (PDF 544KB)
• Prohibition of canvassing within 10 metres (PDF 511KB)
• Designated campaign area appointment form (PDF 463KB)
• Code of conduct (PDF 133KB)

The following links provide information on signage guidelines and codes:

• Alice Springs Town Council - Signage guidelines
• City of Darwin - Election signage 
• Department of Infrastructure, Planning and Logistics -  Election signage policy
• Katherine Town Council -  Signs code
• City of Palmerston - advertising signs code

More information can be found via the following links:

• Australian Communications and Media Authority
• Broadcasting Services Act 1992
• ClearAds
• Political and election matter guidelines

• Total gifts with details of each person or organisation donating $200 or more.
• Total number of persons and organisations who made gifts.
• In-kind gifting of goods, assets and services that were free or below true market value – except volunteer work.
• Details of loans of $1500 or more.
• Details of all expenditure according to categories (broadcasting, publishing, display advertising, campaign material, direct mailing, opinion polling/research).

Reporting period commences:

• For an independent candidate – on the day candidature is announced or the day nominated, whichever is earlier.
• For a newly endorsed party candidate – from the date of endorsement.
• For a candidate from the previous election nominating again – 30 days after the previous election day.

For all candidates:

• Reporting period ends 30 days after election day.
• Return must be lodged within 15 weeks of election day.
• Returns are available for inspection on this website from the start of the twenty-fifth week after election day.

NOTE:

• Candidates must appoint a reporting agent .
• The onus is on the person disclosing to get it right.
• If endorsed by a registered political party, donations and expenditure made to the party are reported by the party and not by the candidate.
• It is illegal to accept donations of $200 or more anonymously.
• Disclosure amounts are inclusive of GST.
• There is no limit on donations, there is a limit (called cap) on expenditure, it's $40,000 indexed.
• A nil return is required even if there is nothing to disclose.

Electoral Act reference: Part 10, Division 4, section 200

People and organisations making donations to candidates may be required to submit a return – more information is available below under 'Donations to political parties and candidates'.