Election events

The Electoral Commission of Queensland (ECQ) is responsible for conducting state, local and industrial elections and referendums in Queensland. Elections are conducted in accordance with the Electoral Act 1992, the Local Government Electoral Act 2011, the Referendums Act 1997, and the Industrial Relations Act 2016.

Current and upcoming elections

Currently, there are no state or local government elections underway in Queensland.

Past elections

Select a year below to see elections held during that year.

State general elections

In Queensland, State general elections are held every four years on the last Saturday in October. Fixed four-year terms were introduced in Queensland following the 2016 referendum.

For more information about recent State general elections:

• The 2024 State general election was held on 26 October 2024. The results are available.
• The 2020 State general election was held on 31 October 2024. The results are available.

Queensland is divided into 93 electorates. You can see Queensland's electoral boundaries and look up your address to find your electorate.

Local government elections

Local government elections in Queensland are held every four years on the last Saturday in March. The election date may be changed by regulation (usually due to conflict with Easter public holidays).

For more information about recent local government quadrennial elections:

• The 2024 local government elections were held on 16 March 2024. The results are available.
• The 2020 local government elections were held on 28 March 2020. The results are available.

There are 77 local government areas within Queensland. Local government areas can have divided or undivided councils. A divided council has internal boundaries known as divisions or wards. Voters elect a councillor to represent their division. In an undivided council, voters elect all the councillors for their local government area.

You can see local government electoral boundaries and look up your address to find your local government area. If you live in a divided council, the division or ward will also display.

By-elections

By-elections may be held if a vacancy occurs during a term of office for a member of parliament, a mayor or a councillor.

Vacancies can occur for many reasons, including death, resignation, absence without leave, expulsion or disqualification.

In the year following the local government quadrennial elections, councillor vacancies can be filled through a by-election or by appointing the runner-up from the  last quadrennial election. The council decides by resolution how to fill a vacancy. Mayoral vacancies must be filled through a by-election.

Election results and statistics

For information about historical elections, see the Election results and statistics page.

Referendums

A referendum may be held to change the State Constitution or to seek opinions from voters on an issue. Voting in a referendum is compulsory.

Referendums do not ask voters to choose between candidates. Usually a referendum poses a question that is answered with a Yes or No vote.

Industrial elections

The ECQ conducts industrial elections under the Industrial Relations Act 2016 for employer and employee organisations registered in Queensland.

To initiate an industrial election, the organisation applies to the Queensland Industrial Relations Commission (QIRC). If the election is approved, the QIRC directs the ECQ to conduct the election.

The QIRC's decision and the rules of the organisation involved determines the timetable and processes for each industrial election.