General News
8 July, 2026
Postal votes for Mayoral poll
THE election for a new Mayor of Tablelands Regional Council will be conducted by postal votes only.
After making the decision last Wednesday, the council will now make an application to the Electoral Commission of Queensland (ECQ) for the by-election to be conducted by full postal ballot.
The application will also cover any further by-election that may be required this year if a sitting Councillor contests and wins the mayoral election, creating a vacancy in their division.
Under a full postal vote, ballot papers are mailed directly to registered voters, who complete and return them by post. There are no polling booths.
Council has requested the postal voting model because it provides a practical and cost-effective way to conduct elections across the Tablelands region. Mareeba Shire Council took the same route last year when former councillor Kevin Davies’ role had to be filled.
Conducting the mayoral by-election by full postal ballot is expected to save approximately $56,000 in costs compared with an attendance-based election.
The ECQ will assess council’s application and make a recommendation to the Minister for Local Government.
The Minister will ultimately determine whether the mayoral by-election, and any further by-election required during 2026, will be conducted by full postal ballot.
Once the voting method has been determined, the Electoral Commission of Queensland will manage the election process and announce the official timetable, candidate nomination period, ballot mail-out dates and deadline for completed ballots to be returned.
Residents are encouraged to ensure their electoral enrolment details and postal address are current.
Official election dates, candidate details, enrolment information and voting instructions will be published by the ECQ once arrangements have been confirmed.
For official election information, visit https://www.ecq.qld.gov.au/
