The City of Adelaide has embarked on an educational campaign to inform voters of legislative changes affecting the 2026 City of Adelaide election.
Under new laws introduced by the State Parliament, owners and tenants of ratepaying commercial properties, as well as owners of investment properties in the City of Adelaide continue to have an entitlement to vote in the election. However, this year by 31 July, they must enrol an eligible voting representative or potentially miss out on the opportunity to vote later this year.
In a sweeping change that affects all councils across the state, all voters are also required to be State Electors.
Rate-paying properties affected by the changes span businesses, organisations, retail outlets, hospitality premises, Airbnb investment properties and even residential investment properties.
Where no nomination has been made where the property is owned or tenanted by a body corporate or a group, the CEO of the City of Adelaide will appoint by default a person to vote.
To create awareness of the changes, Council has enlisted the help of prominent Adelaide businessman and developer Theo Maras. Mr Maras features in a short information video with Lord Mayor
Jane Lomax-Smith to help commercial property owners and tenants understand the changes to the voting system and to encourage them to enrol a suitable voting representative.
The Lord Mayor said that where investment or commercial properties are owned by one person, all that is required is for the owner to enrol themselves as the voter. Whereas, with properties, owned or occupied by a body corporate or in a group structure, one person must be nominated and enrolled to cast a vote.
"For example, a butcher could own the premises he runs his business from and so this would be straightforward compared to a big city office block that might be owned by a body corporate, or group of individuals, and who may even lease their offices to different businesses who in turn sub-let to other businesses," said the Lord Mayor.
"To take the complexity out of it, the City of Adelaide has created an online Election Navigator on our website which guides users through the process of nominating and enrolling an eligible voter for the commercial or investment property concerned.
In the video, which is part of Council's Make It Your Business - Enrol To Vote campaign, Mr Maras and the Lord Mayor are seen speaking to business owners at Adelaide Central Market, explaining the changes to this year's elections.
Mr Maras said that the many businesses, institutions and organisations operating in the CBD and North Adelaide are the lifeblood of the city and should have a voice in the election.
"Businesses need to ensure that they are in a position to be able to vote for the candidate who represents their best interests," said Mr Maras.
"Four years is a long time and the businesses and commercial concerns across all of the wards can achieve a lot with an elected member who knows their industry and is willing to go into bat for them.
"It's vital that commercial property owners or tenants nominate a voter and I think the Election Navigator is really useful," explained Mr Maras, who is also chair of the Adelaide Central Market Authority.
"The Election Navigator application has a step-by-step process for you and my message to property owners and tenants is that they are only a few clicks away from being able to cast that all important vote."
Council advises that people who are owners and tenants of residential properties in the city and North Adelaide will automatically be enrolled if they are on the State Electoral Roll. It is only owners and tenants of commercial properties, as well as owners of investment properties, that are required to nominate and enrol a voting representative.
Importantly, the City of Adelaide administration team is available to assist anyone with questions and can be contacted at [email protected] or telephone 8203 7203.
The Election Navigator can be accessed at cityofadelaide.com.au/election.
