The first set of regulations will be focussed on electoral reform which will affect the 2023 Ordinary Local Government Elections.
The City of Albany advised the Minister for Local Government in December 2022 that its Council was taking the voluntary pathway to reform, including a reduction in the number of elected members.
Phase 1 of the reduction in elected members will take place at the 2023 Ordinary Local Government Election, with a reduction in vacancies from six to four.
At the 2025 Ordinary Local Government Election there will be a further reduction in vacancies from six to four. Following the 2025 election, the City of Albany Council will be made up of a popularly elected Mayor and eight elected members.
Candidate profiles will be published here as they are received.
INFORMATION FOR CANDIDATES
Nominations
Nominations open on Thursday 31 August 2023.
Nominations close on Thursday 07 September 2023 at 4.00pm.
A Candidate Information Pack has been prepared to provide information about nominating in the 2023 Election and can be found here: Candidate Information Pack
Who Can Be a Candidate?
Under the Local Government Act 1995, to be eligible to nominate as a candidate for a local government election, the candidate must be:
- an elector of the district (residential or owner/occupier) and
- over 18 years of age.
- Not disqualified by anything below.
A person cannot nominate to be a candidate nor remain a councillor if they:
- are a member of State or Federal Parliament
- are a member of the council of another local government
- are an insolvent under administration
- are in prison serving a sentence for a crime
- have been convicted of a serious local government offence within the last five years (unless the court waived the disqualification)
- have been convicted on indictment of an offence for which the indictable penalty was, or included:
- imprisonment for life, or
- imprisonment for more than five years
- are subject to a court order disqualifying them from being a member of a council because they have misapplied local government funds or property
- are a nominee of a body corporate
- propose standing for two positions on council (unless standing for mayor or president as well as councillor)
- are currently disqualified by the State Administrative Tribunal from holding office as a member of a council.
Before nominating, all candidates must complete an online induction via the Department of Local Government, Sport & Cultural Industries.
How to nominate
To nominate as a candidate for a local government election, the candidate must submit an application consisting of:
- a completed nomination form. For elections being run by the WAEC, it is recommended that candidates use Nomination Builder (link to come) to complete their nomination form and construct their candidate profile.
- a candidate profile which must:
- be in English
- be no more than 1000 characters (including spaces)
- not contain false, defamatory or misleading information
- fit on an A4 page
- include the candidate’s full name and contact information
- a photograph, no larger than passport-sized and taken in the last six months (optional).
- a deposit of $100
Candidates may also provide a written statement in English, of up to 2,000 characters (including spaces) with their nomination paper (optional).
All nomination applications must be signed by the candidate in front of a witness.
The nomination application must be submitted to the Returning Officer during the nomination period (31 August - 4 pm, 7 September 2023).
As the Returning Officer may ask candidates to amend their nomination, it is recommended that candidates ensure they have allowed sufficient time to finalise any required changes before the close of nominations.
Authorisation of Election Campaign Material
A common area or concern for some candidates relates to the authorisation of election campaign material. It is important to note that any material “that is intended, calculated or likely to affect voting in an election” is required to be authorised.
The requirements relating to the authorisation of election material apply irrespective of who is publishing the material and whether it is in printed or electronic form.
Any electoral advertisement, handbill, pamphlet or electoral notice (other than an advertisement in a newspaper announcing the holding of a meeting), letter or article must include the name and physical street address (not a PO Box number) of the person authorising it, at the foot of the material. If the material is printed in hard copy, then it must also include the name and place of business of the printer at the foot of the material. This applies unless the advertisement is in a newspaper (in which case the printer is obvious and contactable).
If election material is produced and printed by the one person (eg. using a home computer and printer), then the legislative provisions are satisfied by adding ‘Authorised and printed by (name), (address)’ at the foot of the material.
Certain small items of a candidate or party promotional nature are exempt from the requirement to carry the authorisation and addresses. These include:
- T-shirts, lapel buttons, lapel badges, pens, pencils or balloons
- Business or visiting cards that promote the candidacy of any person in an election.
Election Signage Information Sheet
WALGA Publication: Political Signage Guideline
Disclosures
Candidates have a duty of disclosure of electoral donations. Candidates and donors are required to disclose any electoral related gifts promised or received within the six months prior to polling day.
For more information, please visit the WA Electoral Commission website https://www.elections.wa.gov.au/elections/local
Electoral Offences and Complaints
Further information on Electoral Offences and how to make a complaint can be found here: https://www.elections.wa.gov.au/electoral-offences-and-complaints-local-government-election
INFORMATION FOR VOTERS
Have your say in the 2023 Local Government Election.
Enrolling to vote
Enrolments Close on 25 August 2023
Ratepayers and residents of the City of Albany are entitled to vote in local government elections.
You might need information about your voting entitlements if you:
- Live in Albany and recently turned 18; or
- Live outside Albany but own property and pay rates in the City of Albany
You can visit the WA Electoral Commission website to check if you are enrolled. Enrolment forms:
Form 2 - Enrolment eligibility claim form: Fill in this form if you own or occupy rateable property in a district or ward, but are not represented on the residents roll (Western Australian Electoral Commission Roll) for that district or ward and want to be able to vote at local government elections for that district.
Form 2A - Application to register a nominee for a body corporate: Fill in this form if the body corporate: owns or occupies rateable property in a district or ward, but are not represented on the residents roll (Western Australian Electoral Commission Roll) for that district or ward and wants to be able to vote at local government elections for that district.
Form 2B - Application to register a nominee for co-owners or occupiers: Fill in this form if the persons: own or occupy rateable property in a district or ward, but are not represented on the residents roll (Western Australian Electoral Commission Roll) for that district or ward. Note: If a proposed nominee is on the residents roll (Western Australian Electoral Commission Roll) for the district or ward, they are automatically enrolled to vote.
2023 Local Government Elections Toolkit
The WA Electoral Commission has provided information for electors here: https://www.elections.wa.gov.au/2023-local-government-elections-toolkit
This link includes information on the optional preferential voting system and how to vote.
Form 2A - Application to register a nominee for a body corporate
Form 2B - Application to register a nominee for co-owners or occupiers
VOTING METHOD
The City of Albany elections are managed by the Western Australian Electoral Commission (WAEC), which appoints a Returning Officer for each election.
In accordance with Local Government Reforms introduced in May 2023, the voting method for local government elections in Western Australia will be optional preferential voting.
MORE INFORMATION
For more information on local government elections, please contact the Department of Local Government, Sport & Cultural Industries or the Western Australian Electoral Commission (WAEC):
Council Elections
Local Government Elections
Election Signage Information Sheet
WALGA Publication: Political Signage Guideline
LOCAL GOVERNMENT ELECTION RESULTS
Click here for all City of Albany Local Government Election Results