The Electoral Commission of South Australia (ECSA) has released the official timetable for the 2027 Local Government periodic elections, providing councils with important dates to support election planning and preparation.

Key dates include:

• Roll close: Monday 4 January 2027
• Nominations open: Tuesday 26 January 2027
• Nominations close: Tuesday 9 February 2027
• Close of voting (Polling Day): 5pm, Wednesday 7 April 2027
• Scrutiny and count: 9am, Saturday 10 April 2027

The caretaker period will commence no later than Tuesday 9 February 2027 and continue until the conclusion of the elections.

The timetable follows the deferral of the 2026 council elections and provides certainty for councils as preparations begin for the 2027 election period arising from the Local Government (Elections) (Periodic Elections) Amendment Act 2026, which commenced upon gazettal on 2 July 2026.

Members are encouraged to familiarise themselves with the full election timetable and incorporate the key dates into their planning and governance activities.

Councils can also access LGA’s Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) to better understand the practical implications of the changes. The resource provides guidance on the issues councils are most likely to encounter as they plan for the transition to the new election timetable.

If you have a question that is not currently addressed, you can submit it to LGA through the online form.

We will continue to update the FAQs as new information becomes available to ensure councils have access to timely, practical and consistent guidance throughout the transition.