2009 Tasmanian local elections

Voting was not compulsory.^[7] All voting was held via post, and the elections were conducted by the Tasmanian Electoral Commission (TEC).^[8]

Councillor elections were conducted using a slightly modified version of the Hare-Clark electoral system, which is also used for Tasmanian House of Assembly elections.^[9] Mayors and deputy mayors were elected using preferential voting, which is also used for Tasmanian Legislative Council elections.^[9] The Robson Rotation was used to rotate the order in which candidate names appear on ballot papers.^[10]

Candidates were required to have council experience to run for the positions of mayor or deputy mayor (a rule which was removed for the 2014 local elections).^[11] Half of all councillors were up for election every two years (as part of the "half-in, half-out" system), while all mayors and deputy mayors had two-year terms.^[12][13]

A total of 316 candidates nominated for a total of 150 councillor positions, 55 candidates nominated for 29 mayoral positions and 78 candidates nominated for 29 deputy mayoral positions.^[1] 11 mayoral positions and two deputy mayoral positions were uncontested.^[1]

The Greens continued to endorse candidates in a number of LGAs.^[14] The Labor Party and Liberal Party did not endorse any candidates.^[15][16]