Key dates in council elections

Candidates are starting to throw their hats into the ring ahead of the Moreton Bay City Council elections in March.

Nominations officially open on January 29, ahead of the Local Government elections across Queensland on Saturday March 16.

But Queensland Greens have already announced Benita Suckling will contest Division 6 while independent Susan Laird has launched a campaign for Division 8.

The latter is guaranteed a new representative as Mick Gillam, who has been councillor for that division since 1994, is retiring.

His last full Council meeting will be on January 24, before Moreton Bay City Council goes into caretaker mode ahead of polling in March.

Once applications officially open, candidates will have just over two weeks to nominate before the February 13 deadline. The ballot paper draw will be held the following day.

Applications to vote by post will close on March 4. Early voting begins n the same date and will continue until March 15, the day before the election.

Electoral Commission of Queensland proposed election timetable:

• Notice of election – Monday, January 29, 2024

• Candidate nominations open – Monday, January 29, 2024

• Close of electoral roll – Monday, February 5, 2024

• Candidate nominations close - 12pm, Tuesday February 13, 2024

• Ballot paper order draw – 10am, Wednesday February 14, 2024

• Postal vote applications close – 7pm, Monday March 4, 2024

• Early voting - Monday March 4 to March 15, 2024

• Election day - 8am to 6pm, Saturday March 16, 2024

• Close of return of postal votes – Tuesday, March 26, 2024