Local governments make many decisions that affect our communities, and it is vital that your views are taken into consideration as part of this decision-making process. By voting at local government elections, you can contribute to effective local government. If you don't vote, you have no say in determining the person who represents you when making decisions in areas like local planning and development, recreation space and the upkeep of your community.
Voting at a local government election provides you with an opportunity to elect a person you believe can make the best contribution to your community by being a councillor in your local government.
Eligibility to Vote
To be eligible to vote in local government election you need to be either a
resident, an
eligible non-resident owner or non-resident occupier of rateable property in the local government district, or a
nominee of a body corporate that owns or occupies rateable property in the district of ward. You must also be correctly enrolled to vote in State or Commonwealth elections and be at least 18 years of age on election day.
To check your electoral enrolment click
here or contact the Western Australian Electoral Commission at
www.waec.wa.gov.au or phone 13 63 06.
Residents
A person who lives at an address in a local government ward or district and is correctly enrolled on the State roll for that address
is a resident of the district and automatically enrolled to vote.
Non-Resident
Non-resident owners and non-resident occupiers of rateable property are not automatically enrolled. Non-residents who wish to vote in local government elections or Corporate bodies who wish to nominate people as nominees should apply to the Chief Executive Officer of their local government, using an Enrolment Eligibility Claim Form.
Click on the required form below to download:
Non-resident owner of rateable property
A non-resident owner is a person who owns rateable property in a local government district or ward but lives outside that local government district of ward.
To be eligible to be on the roll, a non-resident owner must be enrolled on the State or Commonwealth Government electoral roll for the address where they live.
Non-resident occupier of rateable property
A non-resident occupier is a person who leases or occupies rateable property in a local government district or ward but lives outside that local government district or ward. To be eligible to vote the person must be enrolled on the State or Commonwealth Government electoral roll where they live, and have a right of continuous occupation under a lease, tenancy agreement or other legal instrument of the property within the district where they seek a vote. The right of continuous occupation must extend for a period of at least 3 months at the time the person claims enrolment.
Nominees of a body corporate
A body corporate that owns or leases property in a local government district or ward may nominate as electors two people who do not reside in that district or ward and are eligible to vote in State or Commonwealth elections in respect of their residential address.
