Local Government Electoral Act 2011

What this law does: This is Queensland's Local Government Electoral Act 2011, which sets the rules for how local council elections are run across the state. It covers everything from who can vote and stand as a candidate, to how votes are counted and how much money candidates can spend on their campaigns.

Who it affects:

• Voters – anyone enrolled to vote in a local government area
• Candidates – people running for mayor or councillor positions
• Political parties – parties that endorse candidates
• Third parties – individuals or groups who spend money to influence elections
• Local governments – councils that must hold elections every four years

Key things the law does:

1. Elections must be held every four years (quadrennial elections), with by-elections held when vacancies occur

2. Two voting systems are used:

   • Optional preferential voting for mayors and single-member divisions
   • First-past-the-post for other councillor elections

3. Spending caps limit how much candidates and parties can spend on campaigns – ranging from $6,000 for unregistered third parties up to $1.3 million for Brisbane mayoral candidates