When is the next local government election? The City of Bayswater will hold an extraordinary election for the North Ward on Friday 15 March 2024.
City elections are conducted as postal elections by the Western Australian Electoral Commission (WAEC).
The City has been appointed a Returning Officer by the WAEC. Full details about eligibility and nomination procedures for prospective candidates can be obtained by contacting Caitlyn Noonan on 0461 372 766 or the WAEC on 13 63 06.
For queries relating to voting, contact Karen D’Cunha, Coordinator Governance, on 9208 2402 or karen.dcunha@bayswater.wa.gov.au or Amanda Albrecht, Manager Governance, on 9272 0697 or amanda.albrecht@bayswater.wa.gov.au.
- One North Ward Councillor
Optional preferential voting has been introduced for local government elections. Find out more under the below section, What is optional preferential voting?
New legislation also came into effect from 1 January 2024 that imposes stricter requirements on occupier claims.
Occupiers must:
- provide a written lease, tenancy agreement or legal instrument to claim right of occupation
- have held occupation for 12 months prior to the election and hold occupation three months after the election
- have quiet enjoyment (exclusive occupation)
- be able to secure the property
- genuinely operate a business from the property
- pay a minimum amount of rent based on the square meterage of the property
- occupy a property of at least 10 square metres
Last year, the State Government introduced optional preferential voting for local government elections. This includes extraordinary elections.
Optional preferential voting is similar to the way you vote in State and Federal elections; however, with optional preferential voting, you do not have to assign every candidate with your preference. You can vote for one, some, or all candidates on the ballot paper. With optional preferential voting, if the candidate you have given your first preference to is eliminated from the count, your vote will be redistributed to your next preference on the ballot paper. This process continues until one candidate has the majority of votes.
You will receive more information from the Western Australian Electoral Commission on optional preferential voting when you receive your voting packs.
For more information, visit the Department of Local Government's website.
Election packages will be posted to electors in the North Ward in mid-February, approximately four weeks before election day.
Your election package will include ballot papers, instructions on how to vote, a list of candidates and a declaration.
You may vote at home and post the completed ballot papers directly to the WAEC using the reply-paid envelope.
If you are using the postal service, we recommend posting your completed ballot papers by Friday 8 March 2024 to ensure they are received in time.
Alternatively, you can drop your completed ballot papers into the ballot box at the City of Bayswater Civic Centre reception at 61 Broun Avenue, Morley no later than 6pm, Friday 15 March 2024.
The Civic Centre reception is open from 8.30am to 4.30pm on weekdays.
The City of Bayswater will be open from 8.30am until 6pm on Friday 15 March 2024.
No. Voting in a local government election is not compulsory in Western Australia; however, all electors are strongly encouraged to vote.
No. Early or absent voting is not available for postal elections. If you are going to be away at the time of the election, you will need to have someone forward your ballot voting package to you.
You may vote if you are on the resident roll for the North Ward or on the owner/occupier roll if you are a non-resident in the North Ward. Please note the requirements for being on the owner/occupier roll changed from 1 January 2024. Refer to How to enrol to vote for more.
You are automatically enrolled to vote if you are on the State electoral roll. The roll closes at 5pm, Thursday 18 January 2024. If you are not already on the State electoral roll and meet the eligibility criteria, or if you have changed address or turned 18 years of age recently, you must complete an enrolment form. You may enrol online or check your enrolment status on the WAEC website: Check Your Enrolment.
What if I am a non-resident owner or occupier in the City? If you are a resident in the North Ward of the City of Bayswater, you are likely already enrolled to vote in that ward. Check the status of your enrolment at Check Your Enrolment (elections.wa.gov.au).
If you do not live in the North Ward of the City of Bayswater but own or occupy rateable property (and are on the State or Federal electoral roll), you may be eligible to vote in the City of Bayswater election by enrolling to be on the non-resident owner/occupier roll for the North Ward. Please note the requirements for being on the owner/occupier roll changed from 1 January 2024. Refer to How to enrol to vote for more.
A corporate body or a body corporate is a separate legal entity. It may be a business that has been incorporated (Pty, Ltd), an incorporated association or a strata.
A corporate body can nominate up to two nominees to vote on behalf of the entity.
For a corporate body, you can nominate someone (who is not already on the residents roll, or the owner/occupier roll, in a different capacity) to vote on behalf of the corporate body by filling out this form: Enrolment Eligibility Claim Corporate Body. This person must be eligible to vote (i.e. on the State/Federal electoral roll).
A corporate body that owns or occupies rateable property may nominate two people who are on either the State or Federal electoral roll to enrol as owner/occupier electors by filling out this form: Enrolment Eligibility Claim Corporate Body.
Non-resident owners and occupiers only can fill out this form: Enrolment Eligibility Claim. Please note the requirements for being on the owner/occupier roll changed from 1 January 2024. Refer to How to enrol to vote for more.
Specific enquiries can be directed to the Rating Services team on 9272 0922.