Enrolling to vote in a Local Government Election

Voting in a local government election is not compulsory in WA. However, all electors are strongly encouraged to vote. All eligible electors must enrol to vote. When you enrol to vote, you are enrolled for Commonwealth, State and local government elections. Information and resources about voting are available on the websites below:

Check your Enrolment (WAEC)

LGIRS & WALGA – Voter & Candidate Resources

Enrolment on the owner/occupier roll allows a person who is enrolled to vote at one address, and owns or occupies property at a different address, to a vote in both areas. It also allows non-resident co-owners and occupiers who are enrolled to vote at another address, or a body corporate, to apply to nominate up to two eligible electors to be included on the owner/occupier roll.

If you own or occupy property within the Shire of Donnybrook Balingup, and you are an eligible elector, you may apply to be included on the roll.

Requirements are that the elector must:

• own or occupy rateable property in the electorate;
• have been on the last electoral roll prepared under the Local Government  (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1960 for that electorate; and
• have owned or occupied rateable property in the electorate since that roll was prepared.

Enrolment Eligibility Claim Form - Owners/Occupiers Roll

What is the role of Council, and what does it mean to be a Councillor?

Local governments provide a wide range of services, programs and infrastructure that support and shape communities. These decisions are made by an elected group of Councillors, including the Mayor or President. Becoming a Councillor is a chance to help guide your community’s future and contribute to long-term, positive outcomes. It’s a rewarding role that comes with responsibility, commitment and accountability.

Councillors are community leaders - they help shape local priorities, contribute to strategic planning, and represent the views of residents. Council members don’t make decisions alone, and work together as a whole to debate issues, develop policies, and vote on matters that affect the district.

A key part of the role is communication, which involves listening to the community and sharing information about Council decisions. Councillors need to stay connected with local people and be open to a range of views. Councillors help to shape the future of the community and contribute to many key areas of local government, including:

• Setting policies that guide how the district is run and what it prioritises,
• Planning ahead to make sure services and infrastructure meet future needs,
• Managing community assets like parks, buildings, and public spaces,
• Reviewing and updating policies to keep them relevant and effective,
• Staying informed about local issues and listening to community concerns, and
• Attending Council meetings to discuss ideas and vote on important decisions.

If you want to be involved in the future of your community, and are willing to learn and participate, then you should explore what it takes to be a councillor and nominate for local government elections.

For further information about the Local Government Elections and the role of Council, please refer to the resources from the Department of Local Government, Industry Regulation & Safety (LGIRS), WA Electoral Commission (WAEC), and WA Local Government Association (WALGA) below:

LGIRS – Local Government Elections

WAEC – Local Government Candidates

LGIRS & WALGA – Voter & Candidate Resources

Local Government Candidates & Nominating to be a Council member

Eligibility

To nominate for Council, you must:

• Be at least 18 years old,
• Be an Australian citizen, or a British subject enrolled before 26 January 1984,
• Be an elector in the district,
• If you are currently a Council member, your term must end on election day (unless you're running for a directly elected mayor or president), and
• Complete the mandatory Local Government Candidate Induction on the Department of Local Government, Industry Regulation & Safety (LGIRS) website before election day.

You are not eligible to nominate for Council if you are:

• Are a member of State or Federal Parliament,
• Are an insolvent under administration,
• Are serving a prison sentence,
• Were convicted of a serious local government offence in the past 5 years (unless the court waived the disqualification),
• Were convicted of a serious criminal offence punishable by life imprisonment or more than 5 years,
• Are a member of another local Council,
• Are disqualified by a court for misusing local government funds or property,
• Are listed on the electoral roll as a nominee of a body corporate,
• Are nominating for two Council positions (unless one is for mayor or president), or
• Are currently disqualified by the State Administrative Tribunal.

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 the Nomination Builder (linked below) 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.

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.

WAEC - Local Government Candidates

LGIRS & WALGA – Voter & Candidate Resources

Other Candidate Resources

Refer to the following page on the WAEC website to learn more about what’s involved in becoming a candidate in the 2025 Local Government Elections, including:

• Information about candidate eligibility, how to nominate and disclosures
• A series of guides, as well as a Candidate Information Video and Candidate Information PowerPoint
• A Nomination Builder to help you prepare and submit your nomination profile
• Forms to be completed
• Social media advertising guidelines and resources

WAEC - 2025 Candidate Resources

When is the Caretaker Period, and what does it mean?

What is it?

In State and Federal Government, the government enters what is called a caretaker period when a general election is held. This period means that crucial decisions that would bind a new government are not made while the electors are deciding who the new government should be. Historically, many local governments also carried out a caretaker period for their ordinary elections, however this was decided on a case by case basis and implemented through a council’s own policies and decisions.

Just like State and Federal Governments, local governments should not be making significant decisions while an election is underway, particularly decisions that would bind a future council to a particular course of action.

While the administration of a local government is not changed by an election, an administration is subject to the direction of the council chosen by the electors. As such, entering major contracts, changing the CEO, and similar significant decisions should not be made until after the local government election concludes. This allows a potential new council to choose the course of action that best reflects the electors they represent.

When does the caretaker period apply?

The caretaker period will apply to all ordinary local government elections from October 2025 onwards. The caretaker period runs from the close of nominations to declaration of the poll. It will also apply to any election to elect an entire council after it has been declared vacant or dismissed.

It will not apply to extraordinary local government elections.

You can find more information by referring to Council's Caretaker Provisions and Local Government Elections policy (EM/CP-6), or by visiting the Department of Local Government, Industry Regulation & Safety (LGIRS) website:

Browse our Policies

LGIRS – Local Government Elections