Under the Local Government Act 1995 (Act), Ordinary local government elections are held every 2 years on the third Saturday in October. Council members are elected for a term of up to 4 years.
The next Ordinary election will be held on 18 October 2025.
The Western Australian Electoral Commission (WAEC) is the lead State agency for electoral services in WA. The WAEC also plays a key role in local government elections.
Ahead of a local election, each council will determine whether the local election will be conducted by in-person or postal voting. If the election will be by postal voting, the WAEC must conduct the election on behalf of the local government.
The majority of local governments elect to hold postal voting elections conducted by the WAEC.
If the election will be by in-person voting, then either the local government or the WAEC may conduct the election.
The role of a council member
Election campaigning
Electoral gifts and crowdfunding
Local Government Election Notices
Elected unopposed
Local government elections management
Show moreFollowing local government elections, returning officers need to submit Form 20 reports to the Minister. For elections conducted by the WAEC, the WAEC will be required to submit the Form 20 reports on behalf of the local government.
Click here to submit a Form 20 through the LG Elections Portal.
Voting
Show moreVoting in a local government election is not compulsory in Western Australia. However, all local 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. You can check your enrolment online.
All residents in a local government district who are enrolled on the State Electoral Roll are automatically enrolled on the corresponding local government roll.
People who own or occupy property within a local government district, who meet the requirements of the Local Government Act 1995 and regulations 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 to vote on its behalf.
All eligible electors are allowed to vote once in any district or ward where they are enrolled. If a person lives within one local district or ward, and owns or occupies property in a different district or ward, they may be entitled to a vote in both areas, provided they are enrolled for both.
For more information or to enrol as an owner/occupier, contact your local government.
In-person and postal voting
Where an in-person election is held, electors may apply for a postal vote, absentee vote or an early vote if they are not able to go to a polling booth on election day.
Returning officers
Show moreThe conduct of each local election is managed by a returning officer.
The Electoral Commissioner appoints returning officers for postal elections and in-person elections conducted by the WAEC. A list of these returning officers is available on the WAEC website.
If the local government decides to conduct the election, the chief executive officer of the local government is the returning officer, unless the local government decides to appoint another person to perform the function.
Extraordinary elections
Show moreAn extraordinary election can be held under certain circumstances when the role of mayor, president or councillor becomes vacant. These circumstances are listed in the Act.
Following the 2023 election where optional preferential voting (OPV) is used, backfilling options will now apply to those candidates elected under the new Schedule 4.1 or Schedule 4.1A. Therefore, a future vacancy may be filled by the first and second unelected candidates under Schedule 4.1A for the next 12-month period in lieu of holding an extraordinary election.
Actions are directly related to the time a resignation has been received, as there are options to either backfill (as mentioned above); apply to leave the vacancy unfilled in certain circumstances or to hold an extraordinary election in order to fill the vacancy.
Other elections
Show moreThe Act provides for elections to be held in certain circumstances, such as:
- a restructure of districts or wards
- the reinstatement of a council following suspension
- all offices become vacant
- a council is dismissed.
Public notices
Show morePublic notice of local government elections is published in accordance with the requirements of the Act. The notices provide details about enrolling to vote, nominating to be a candidate in the elections, the ways in which a vote can be cast and the date of the election.
View public notices for in-person elections on the Local Government Elections Notices webpage. Public notices for other local government elections are available on the Western Australian Electoral Commission website.
Schedule 2.3 election sheet
The direct election by the council of its mayor or president and of the deputy mayor or deputy president in all local governments is an important process. It is noted that only some class 3 and 4 local governments have a direct election of the mayor or president, with other local government conducting this as a vote of electors.
The LGIRS has prepared the Schedule 2.3 election sheet to assist local governments in conducting elections in accordance with schedule 2.3 of the Local Government Act 1995.
The spreadsheet can be used to assist in completing the distributions of preferences in the election in accordance with the requirements under the Local Government (Constitution) Regulations 1998.
Presiding/electoral officer
Show moreThe presiding officer, also known as an electoral officer, is pivotal to the smooth running of an election.
Presiding and electoral officers must act lawfully, professionally, impartially and with fairness, honesty and integrity and follow procedures correctly. The manner in which a presiding or electoral officer carries out their functions is under scrutiny on an election day.
Scrutineers
Show moreScrutineers play an important role in local government elections. Candidates have the right to appoint scrutineers to represent their interests by observing the conduct of the election at close hand to check that legal requirements are being met.
Scrutineers must understand the election process, and the responsibilities and duties of the individuals involved, so they can fulfill their role effectively.
Key election milestones
Show more| Days from polling day | Election activities or events | Relevant Act sections or Regulations | Day | Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 363 to 92 | If an elected member's office becomes vacant on or between these days, the council may, with the approval of the Electoral Commissioner, allow the vacancy to remain unfilled until the ordinary election. | LGA s4.16(4) LGA s4.17(2) | Sunday to Friday | 20/10/2024 to 18/07/2025 |
91 | If an elected member's office becomes vacant on or after this day the vacancy will remain unfilled until the ordinary election. | LGA s4.16(2)(3) LGA s4.17(1) | Saturday | 19/07/2025 |
80 | Last day for local governments to gain agreement from the Electoral Commissioner to conduct the election (compulsory if intent is to hold a postal election). | LGA s4.20 (2)(3)(4) LGA s4.61 (2)(4) | Wednesday | 30/07/2025 |
80 | A decision for the Electoral Commissioner to conduct the election cannot be rescinded after this day. | LGA s4.20(6) LGA s4.61(5) | Wednesday | 30/07/2025 |
77 to 63 | Between these days, the CEO of the local government is to give Statewide public notice of the closing date and time for elector enrolments. | LGA s4.39(2) | Saturday to Saturday | 2/08/2025 to 16/08/2025 |
63 | Last day for the local government's CEO to advise the Electoral Commissioner of the need to prepare an updated residents roll. | LGA s4.40(1) | Saturday | 16/08/2025 |
| 63 to 52 | Advertising may begin for council nominations from 63 days, and no later than 52 days, before election day. | LGA s4.47(1) | Saturday to Wednesday | 16/08/2025 to 27/08/2025 |
57 | Close of rolls — 5.00pm | LGA 4.39(1) | Friday | 22/08/2025 |
51 | Nominations open First day for candidates to lodge completed nomination papers, in the prescribed form, with the returning officer. Nominations are open for 8 days. | LGA s4.49(a) | Thursday | 28/08/2025 |
| 44 | Close of nominations — 4.00pm | LGA 4.49(a) | Thursday | 4/09/2025 |
43 | Last day for the Electoral Commissioner to prepare an updated residents roll for the election. Last day for the local government's CEO to prepare an owners and occupiers roll. | LGA s4.40(2) LGA s4.41(1) | Friday | 5/09/2025 |
26 | Returning officer to give Statewide public notice of the election as soon as practicable but no later than 26 days before election day. | LGA s4.64(1) | Monday | 22/09/2025 |
22 | The preparation of any consolidated roll (combined roll of residents, owners and occupiers) under regulation 18(1) is to be completed on or before the 22nd day before election day. | LGA s4.38(1) Reg. 18(1)(2) | Friday | 26/09/2025 |
| 4 | Close of absent voting and close of postal vote applications for 'voting in person' elections — 4.00pm. | LGA s4.68(1)(c) Reg. 37(3)(4) | Tuesday | 14/10/2025 |
1 | Close of early voting for 'voting in person' elections — 4.00pm. | LGA s4.71(1)(e) Reg. 59(2) | Friday | 17/10/2025 |
| 0 | Election day Close of poll — 6.00pm. | LGA s4.7 LGA s4.68(1)(e) | Saturday | 18/10/2025 |
2 | Election results declared and published. | LGA s4.77 | As soon as practicable | |
2 to 16 | Report to Minister. The report relating to an election under section 4.79 is to be provided to the Minister within 14 days after the declaration of the result of the election. | LGA s4.79(1)(2) Reg. 81 | As soon as practicable | |
Within 28 days of result publication | An invalidity complaint can be made to a Court of Disputed Returns, constituted by a magistrate, but can only be made within 28 days after notice is given of the result of the election. | LGA s4.81(1) | As applicable | |
Within 2 months of result declaration | Newly elected members to make their declarations of office. | LGA s2.29(1)(2) LGA s2.32(c) LGA s2.34(1)(c) | As soon as practicable | |
Within 3 months of members making declarations | Newly elected members to lodge their Primary Returns with the local government's CEO. | LGA s5.75(1) | As soon as practicable | |
| *All Act sections refer to the Local Government Act 1995. All regulations refer to the Local Government (Elections) Regulations 1997. | ||||
Complaints about result of election (invalidity complaint)
Show moreIn accordance with sections 4.80 and 4.81 of the Local Government Act 1995, within 28 days after notice is given of the result of the election, a person may make an invalidity complaint to the Court of Disputed Returns (Magistrate’s Court). The invalidity complaint is a complaint that:
- an election is invalid
- another person should be declared elected
- the term of office of a councillor should be longer or shorter than the term determined by the returning officer
- the declaration of the second or third place candidate by the returning officer be changed.
The Department of Local Government, Industry Regulation and Safety does not provide legal advice and strongly advises any person (including candidates and their supporters) seek their own independent legal advice concerning the invalidity of an election, before making a complaint to the Magistrates Court.
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