JULIA Gillard's election call could influence when Tasmania holds its local government elections.
Yesterday the state government said it was considering changing the date of local council elections if they clashed with the federal poll.
Both elections are due this year.
Tasmania's council elections, which are decided via postal vote, must close on the last Tuesday of October unless changed by the governor on advice from the government.
If the Prime Minister calls an October poll the state government says it may confuse voters if council elections are running simultaneously.
"Holding both elections at the same time could be confusing for voters, and make it extremely difficult for the Tasmanian Electoral Commission to resource and administer the local government elections. Local Government Minister Bryan Green will consider the issue if it arises," a government spokesman said.
Local Government Association of Tasmania chief executive Allan Garcia said there were also issues around advertising space and the availability of the media to cover both elections.
He said if the date was changed it would most likely be shifted to February 2014.
The last council election date altered in Tasmania was in 1996 when it clashed with the federal poll between then prime minister Paul Keating and opposition leader John Howard.
Due to be held in March, council elections were shifted to October, where they have stayed.
Online betting agency Sportsbet lists September as the favourite month for the next federal election trailed closely by October at $2.50 and then August at $5.50.
The earliest possible date for a federal election of both parliamentary houses is August 3 with the latest being November 30.
