Councils consist of elected members, a chief executive officer and employed staff. The elected members include councillors and a mayor (the principal member). The mayor leads and guides the council, liaises with the chief executive officer between council meetings, is the principal spokesperson of the council and carries out civic and ceremonial duties [Local Government Act 1999 (SA) s 58]. The elected members decide on the strategic direction of the council and set the policy direction and plans. Councils may also have a deputy mayor [s 51(3)].

The elected council is responsible for employing the chief executive officer [s 98]. Council staff are paid to carry out the decisions of the council and to provide services.

Each council is different in size, population and number of staff employed. While large metropolitan councils employ hundreds of staff, smaller rural councils may have very few staff.

Each Council must not have more than 13 elected members unless an exemption is granted [s 11A].

Council members are elected by the public in their local community to represent them and set the strategic and policy direction for the council. All the elected members combine to form the council which meets formally and makes decisions by voting on motions. Elected members have no authority as individuals. All elected members have an equal voice in council meetings and only decisions made by the council can be acted upon.

Elected members should work to ensure that they make the best decisions for local communities. They discuss local issues with their community, then set policies and decide what action will be taken. Employed staff advise the elected members and carry out their decisions. Elected members are not paid a salary but receive an allowance to help defray the cost of council duties and receive reimbursement of certain expenses. The South Australian Remuneration Tribunal determines their allowance [s 76].

Some councils divide the council area into several parts, known as wards [s 12]. Each ward has one or more councillors who pay particular attention to what happens in the area they represent.

Roxby Downs currently doesn't have an elected council but is served by an Administrator performing all the functions of Council.

Council elections

Members of an elected council are voted in by their local community in a council election held every 4 years. Unlike state and federal elections, voting is not compulsory for council elections. Voting in council elections is conducted by post, or, if voters are eligible, by telephone. The Local Government (Elections) Act 1999 (SA) and the Local Government (Elections) Regulations 2025 (SA) set out the rules that govern council elections. The City of Adelaide has special election provisions [City of Adelaide Act 1998 (SA), Schedule 1].

From the 2026 council election, the mayor is directly elected by the community, rather than being selected by councillors. In councils that do not have wards, councillors are elected by all voters in the whole council area. In councils that do have wards, councillors are elected by voters within the ward area.

An election for mayor, an election for councillors who are to be representatives for the area as a whole, and an election for councillors who are to be representatives of a ward, are each separate and distinct elections [Local Government (Elections) Act 1999 (SA) s 4(4)].

More people are eligible to vote in a council election than state and federal elections.

If you are enrolled to vote for state elections, you will already be enrolled to vote in your resident council election and you will automatically receive ballot papers in the post.

If you are enrolled to vote for state elections, you may still be eligible to vote in additional council elections if you are:

If you fall under this category, and wish to vote, you must self-enrol for each council election by completing an enrolment form available on council websites or on the Local Government Association website. If enrolling as a business or organisation, a person must be nominated to vote on its behalf. You can only vote once in a council area or ward, even if you own multiple properties in that area.

More information about the council voters roll can be found on the Electoral Commission of South Australia's website.