| Parliaments and Local Councils | Legislative Assembly | Local Councils |
|---|---|---|
| Terms of Members of Parliament/Council | 4 year fixed term: elections held 4th Saturday in August. | Council elections are held on the 4th Saturday in the 4th year after the most previous general election. |
| Number of Members | 25 single-member electorates. N.b: The Territories of Christmas Island and the Cocos (Keeling) Islands are included in the Northern Territory for Commonwealth electoral purposes only. |
Varies from 5 to 13 per Council. |
| Electoral Legislation | Northern Territory Self Government Act (1978). Northern Territory Electoral Act (2004). |
Local Government Act (2008). Local Government (Electoral) Regulations 2008. |
| Voting Systems (definitions) |
Full Preferential. | Proportional Representation. |
| Enrolment and Voting Eligibility | Same as for Commonwealth. | Voting is compulsory for electors who are enrolled on the Northern Territory roll for an address within a council area. |
| Redistribution Provisions and Frequency | Northern Territory Self Government Act (1978). Northern Territory Electoral Act (2004). A distribution of boundaries is carried out as soon as practicable after 2 years and 6 months after the polling day for a general election. |
Local Government Act (2008). Local Government (Electoral) Regulations (2008). At least once in a council's 4 year term. |
| Joint Rolls Arrangements between Commonwealth, States and Territories | Since 1989. | Electoral rolls and roll products are provided by the Electoral Commission. |
| Funding, Donations and Disclosure Provisions | Disclosure of donations and expenditure is required by candidates, parties, associated entities, and third-party campaigners. No funding provisions. |
None. |
| Interesting and Particular Feature(s) | Candidate photographs appear on the ballot paper. At election times a large area of the Territory is serviced by mobile polling teams. |
The Electoral Commissioner is the appointed returning officer for general elections. Casual vacancies are filled at a by-election if it occurs more than 18 months before the next general election. At general elections, absent voting is undertaken at nominated polling locations. |
