Running with affiliations

Election affiliations

An affiliation shows a candidate is officially supported by a political party, organisation or a group that shares an agreement on ideas, beliefs or policies.

Affiliations can influence how people vote, participate in politics or view certain topics and issues.

How to run independently

If you’re running on your own and are not part of an organisation or group, you can list your affiliation as “independent” or leave the section blank on the nomination form.

How to join an existing affiliation

If you’re interested in joining an existing affiliation, contact the organisation or group directly to discuss membership.

How to start your own affiliation

You can create your own affiliation. You do not need to register it in advance with the Electoral Officer before lodging your nomination.

To start your own affiliation, form a group of like-minded people and choose a name which reflects the group’s values and goals.

How to run as part of an affiliation

If you’re running as part of a group, include a letter of consent from the organisation or group. This is called an “authority to adopt the affiliation”. Submit this along with your nomination form.

This process ensures affiliations are used legally and transparently with the public.

Affiliations that will not be accepted

Affiliations that will not be accepted include those:

• That might cause offence.
• Are likely to confuse or mislead voters (for example, an affiliation that is too similar to another).
• Are election slogans rather than an organisation or group name.