Council spot guaranteed without election for everyone who put up their hand

Candidates elected unopposed due to low nominations in Tasmanian local government elections In short: Two local councils in Tasmania have had fewer nominations than council seats they are trying to fill in the October local government elections. It means a number of people have been elected unopposed. What's next: The period for nominations has been extended for both King Island and Tasman councils for one week in a hope to fill the roles. Eleven people have been elected unopposed across two Tasmanian councils after they struggled to attract enough nominations ahead of next month's local government elections. The Tasman Council received only six nominations for seven councillor positions, while the King Island Council had only five people nominate for seven available seats. This year has seen a lower number of candidate nominations across the state compared to previous years, with 430 nominations compared to 505 four years ago. Two hundred and eighty-three of the candidates are men, 144 are women, and 3 are non-binary. October's elections will be the first time since the Tasmanian government reformed the number of local government council positions in the state, with 213 councillors to be elected, down from 263 previously. Unusual but not uncommon It's not the first time councillor roles have been filled without voters having to go to the polls. King Island also fell short on nominations four years ago, and La Trobe council was the same in 2014. Tasmanian Electoral Commission's Andrew Hawkey told 936 ABC Hobart there are guidelines in place for when low nominations occur. "Under the Local Government Act, thankfully it allows us to extend the nomination period just for those vacancies," he said. "It just gives us a bit of extra time to find those extra candidates." Nominations opened earlier this month and closed state-wide yesterday at midday, but a week extension will be offered for King Island and Tasman councils. While some councils struggled for numbers, others had much more interest. Glenorchy topped the list with 12 deputy mayoral candidates while Hobart City Council has 11 in the running for mayor and 10 for deputy. Last year, the Tasmanian government ushered in changes to the Local Government Act 1993, which will see 50 fewer councillors elected. Only Launceston, Hobart, Clarence, Glenorchy and Kingborough will elect nine councillors, with the other 24 jurisdictions electing seven. Starting Monday, October 5, ballot packs are set to be delivered by post, with polls closing on October 27 and counting commencing the following day. Voting is compulsory for electors on the state roll and occurs only by ballot with no in-person polling booths available. No hot button topics to inspire participation Tasman Council mayor Rod MacDonald said it was disappointing to not see more nominations but put the lack of interest down to a lack of controversial issues in the region. "There are so many different, personal reasons why they do or why they don't," he said. "Our council's been running really well and getting things done. "People probably were a bit more relaxed … there were no real issues to push their candidature." All six candidates who have nominated will automatically be elected, and Cr MacDonald says he has already heard of interest in the remaining seat. If there is one nomination, they will be elected unopposed; if there are more new candidates, they will battle it out for the final seat when ballot papers are sent out for the Tasman mayoral and deputy votes. The Tasman council area encompasses a region east of Hobart and includes Port Arthur, Nubeena and Taranna. Is 29 councils too many? Tasman deputy mayor Maria Stacey will not recontest this year's local government election and said it's been a rewarding experience after three terms and twelve years in local government. "This can be challenging at times when you do have something controversial … but it is rewarding," she said. She says 29 councils is a lot for a small state. "Everybody you ask thinks that 29 is too many, but they don't want their representation to be diminished; they don't want it to happen to them," she said. "But I think eventually it will come; not in my lifetime, but it will come."