The Municipality of Elliot was constituted on 31 August 1911 under, and by virtue of, Section 68 and 81 of the South Africa Act, 1909, and Section 8 of the Municipal Act, 1882 in terms of Proclamation No 183, 1911 (The Province of the Cape of Good Hope Official Gazette No 144, 22 September 1911).

In 1994 Elliot became part of the Eastern Cape Province. It forms part of the Sakhisizwe Local Municipality, one of six local municipalities that falls under the Chris Hani District Municipality.