Nominations will close this week for a by-election to fill a vacant councillor position in the Tiwi Islands Regional Council's Milikapiti Ward.

Candidate nominations opened on August 13, with the Northern Territory Electoral Commission giving candidates until 12 noon on Wednesday, August 19 to nominate for the single vacancy.

A declaration of nominations will be held at 1pm on Wednesday, followed by a draw to determine candidate positions on the ballot paper.

Media representatives, candidates and interested parties can attend the declaration at the NT Electoral Commission office in Darwin or online through Microsoft Teams.

One of three councillor positions in the Milikapiti Ward is currently vacant, with the ward representing the community on the northern coast of Melville Island.

Mayor Lynette De Santis and councillor Pius Tipungwuti currently represent the ward, while the third position remains vacant.

All three Milikapiti Ward positions were filled without a contested ballot at the 2025 Northern Territory local government elections after Pius Sarto Tipungwuti, Lynette Jane De Santis and Jeffrey Simon Ullungura were the only three candidates to nominate for the three vacancies.

Competition was stronger at the 2021 election, when eight candidates contested the same three positions and Mr Ullungura, Ms De Santis and Mr Tipungwuti were elected.

Voters have until Monday, August 17 to enrol or update their details for the by-election, while applications for postal voting remain open until September 1.

Following Wednesday's declaration and ballot draw, the NT Electoral Commission is expected to release the final list of candidates.