MAKE YOUR VOTE COUNT

Voting in local government elections is not compulsory, however it is strongly encouraged. This is your opportunity to have a say about who represents you on council. 

The electoral roll closes around 8 weeks before the election. To vote, you must be on the electoral roll before rolls close. Check or update your enrolment details online.

Postal elections 

For postal elections, postal election packages (ballots) will be mailed out around 4 weeks before the election day.   

Completed ballots must be returned to the WA Electoral Commission by 6pm on election day. Ballots received after this time won’t be counted. If it’s too late to post, you can hand deliver your election package to a local polling place (the City of Albany Administration Building located at 102 North Road Yakamia WA 6330). 

If you’ve misplaced or damaged your postal election package, visit the City of Albany for a replacement package. Don’t forget to bring your ID.  

WHO CAN VOTE?

Enrol or update your enrolment

The electoral roll closes around 8 weeks before the election. To vote, you must be on the electoral roll before rolls close (see dates above). Enrol to vote or update your enrolment details online.

Who can vote?

Anyone who is enrolled to vote for the local government district or ward that’s holding the extraordinary election is eligible to vote. This includes the following electors:  

• Residents: All residents in a local government district who are enrolled on the State electoral roll are automatically enrolled on the corresponding local government roll.  
• Owners and Occupiers: People who own or occupy property within a local government district, can apply to their local government to be included on the roll as an owner/occupier, as long as they are eligible electors. A body corporate may apply to have up to two eligible electors to be included on the owner/occupier roll.  

Owners and Occupiers Roll   

If you own or occupy rateable property in a local government area but are not on the State electoral roll for the district for which you are claiming entitlement, you can apply to the City of Albany to be on the Owners and Occupiers Roll, provided that you meet other eligibility requirements. A body corporate may apply to have up to two eligible electors to be included on the Owners and Occupiers Roll. Learn more about Owners and Occupiers Roll.

Do I have to vote? 

Voting is not compulsory however it is strongly encouraged. Voting means you have a say in who represents you on council.

Changes to voting in local government elections

Optional preferential voting  

Local government elections in WA now use ‘optional preferential voting’, instead of ‘first past the post’ voting. Optional preferential voting is similar to how voting is done in State and Federal elections.  

Under the optional preferential voting system, voters number candidates in the order of their preference. You don’t have to number all the boxes if you don’t want to.  

You have the choice to –  

• vote for one candidate - by putting a 1 next to their name  

• vote for some candidates - by numbering several candidates in the order of your preference  

• vote for all candidates - in the order of your preference   

Learn more about preferential voting.

Information for candidates

Thinking about running for local council? The links below include important information about what’s involved in becoming a local government candidate. 

• Information for candidates - forms, guides, contacts etc.