NT Local Government Elections 2025: Mayoral results for five councils likely revealed by Friday evening

In less than 24 hours Territorians will likely know who their mayors are, with former Deputy Chief Minister Peter Styles leading Kon Vatskalis in a nail-biting count in Darwin. Read the latest.

Voters at the AANT Centre for the 2025 Northern Territory Local Government Elections, Saturday, August 23, 2025. Picture: Thomas McLean

Territorians will likely know who their new mayor is by Friday evening, with the deadline for the Northern Territory Electoral Commission to receive postal votes ending midday.

NTEC said it would progressively update the results during the count period.

All mayoral elections must be finalised before the multi-vacancy elections where a candidate is contesting both mayoral and councillor elections.

If a candidate does not achieve more than 50 per cent on first preference votes then a distribution of preferences is required.

Candidates for City of Darwin mayor in the 2025 NT Local Government Elections. L-R: Sam Weston, Julie Fraser, Sylvia Klonaris, Leah Potter, Peter Styles, Nicole Brown, Amye Un, Scarlet D'Arc, Andrew John Arthur, Kon Vatskalis, Robin Lawrence, Edwin Joseph, Vicki Bonson.

In Darwin, former Deputy Chief Minister Peter Styles (22.6 per cent) leads incumbent Lord Mayor Kon Vatskalis (20.7 per cent), with 63.1 per cent of the vote counted as of the latest update Thursday.

The tight race will more than likely come down to preferences.

Candidates for City of Palmerston mayor in the 2025 NT Local Government Elections. L-R: Appa Rao Adari, Dani Eveleigh, Cindy Mebbingarri Roberts, Athina Pascoe-Bell, Raj Samson Rajwin, Rob Waters.

In the satellite city of Palmerston, incumbency will likely prevail with Athina Pascoe-Bell (48.8 per cent) dwarfing second placed Rob Waters (21 per cent), according to the NTEC’s update last Friday.

Candidates for Litchfield Council mayor in the 2025 NT Local Government Elections. L-R: Darren Nugent, Sue Stanton, Doug Barden, Rachael Wright, Mark Sidey, Tony Pritchard.

In Litchfield, incumbent Doug Barden (29.1 per cent) trails Rachael Wright (39 per cent), with 66.7 per cent of the vote counted.

Preferences will likely decide the result of the race.

Candidates for Katherine Town Council mayor in the 2025 NT Local Government Elections.

Joanna Holden (39.6 per cent) looks to be a clear cut winner in the Katherine race, with the first time candidate unlikely to face any pressure from Mel Doyle (13.4 per cent) in second place.

Candidates for Alice Springs Town Council mayor in the 2025 NT Local Government Elections. L-R: Wayne Wright, Louis Miller, Lisa-Marie Burgoyne, Michelle Pettit, Eli MElky, Asta Hill and Paul Cato.

Further south in Alice Springs, Greens-endorsed mayoral candidate Asta Hill (33.2 per cent) sits marginally in front of long-time councillor Eli Melky (31.1 per cent) with 55 per cent of the vote counted.

The neck-and-neck race will also more than likely come down to preferences.

NTEC received 271 nominations accepted across 54 elections to fill 144 vacancies within 16 local government councils.

The Declaration of Results for the 2025 Local Government Elections is scheduled for 10am on September 8, 2025.