Nominations have opened for the mayoralty in Kingston and Robe for the 2022 supplementary local council elections being held in March.

Supplementary elections will be held in multiple council districts across the state due to insufficient candidate nominations in last year’s council elections.

Candidates wishing to nominate to run for their council can access the online nominations portal to submit their nomination before January 27.

To nominate to run for council, potential candidates must meet certain criteria, including being over 18 years old and being an Australian Citizen.

As part of the nominations process, candidates need to supply a 1000-character candidate profile and recent image, which is sent to all eligible electors as part of their ballot pack.

The pack contains ballot papers, candidate profiles and a reply-paid envelope.

The Electoral Commission of SA’s Director of Communications and Advertising James Trebilcock said nominations would be processed and accepted on a rolling basis throughout the nominations period, but potential candidates were encouraged to nominate early to ensure their nominations were accepted.

“Councils do more than collect rubbish and repair roads, your local council is local people, solving local problems, and that means everything that affects you and your family … from pools to parks to festivals and farmers’ markets – and everything in-between,” he said.

“Unfortunately, some councils were unable to attract sufficient nominees in the 2022 council elections to fill all the required positions, which is why we are required to run these supplementary elections.

“Council members provide community leadership and have a significant impact in South Australia.

“Each local council is keen to fill those positions with people who have a range of perspectives and experiences.

“It is important that residents have someone on the ground who can help them be heard on the issues concerning them – aged care and childcare or parking permits and community pools.

“These supplementary elections are run on a prescribed legislative timetable, and we publish all the key dates on our website and in newspapers that circulate in the council areas.”

Once nominations close, ECSA will print and distribute ballot packs by mail containing electors’ ballot papers from February 1.

Ballot papers must be received by ECSA before March 14 but electors should complete and post their completed ballots back ASAP after receiving them to ensure they arrive via post in time.