Cowra Shire Council has nine councillors elected proportionally as a single ward. All councillors are elected for a fixed four-year term of office. The mayor is elected by the councillors at the first meeting of the council. The most recent by-election was held on 21 December 2021, and the makeup of the council is as follows:[4]
Panoramic view from Cowra Mountain at the Cowra Japanese Garden. The view takes in the gardens and the plains of the Cowra Shire across to the nearby mountains.