Local Election Information

Local election results for the City of Greater Geraldton have been finalised. The results may be viewed on the West Australian Electoral Commission local election results for the City of Greater Geraldton page.

Local Election Enrolment Eligibility Information 2011 - 2012

Do I have to vote? If I don't, will I get fined?

You are encouraged to vote, however it is not compulsory to do so in a Local Government Election.

I own 2 properties. Why do I only get 1 vote?

If both properties are in the same ward of that local government district, you only have one vote. However, if you have two properties in different wards, you will receive a vote for each ward, provided you are on the roll for these addresses. Please check below to see if you need to complete an Enrolment Eligibility Claim Form 2.

In any district election, (ie: Mayoral) electors only have one vote.

Why do we have an owners & occupier roll?

If a residents roll only was compiled, this would disenfranchise people who are ratepayers of the district or ward because they own or occupy rateable property but live elsewhere.

This is remedied by the preparation of an owners and occupiers roll.  In general it is a requirement that people who are on the local government roll are also on the State or Commonwealth roll for the place where they live.

How do I get on the owners & occupiers roll?

Applications for inclusion on the local government roll as an owner or occupier are to be made on an ‘Enrolment Eligibility Claim’ prescribed Form 2. To be able to vote at the election the application must reach and be accepted by the CEO by 5pm on the 50th day before Election Day.  If the application is rejected the applicant must be advised in writing using a prescribed form. 

Who is eligible to enrol?

A Non-resident owner of rateable property is eligible for inclusion on the local government roll provided they are also on the State or Commonwealth electoral roll for where they live. 

A Non-resident occupier must have a right of continuous occupation under a lease, tenancy agreement or other legal instrument. The right of continuous occupation must extend for a period of at least three months from the time the person claims enrolment.

Where rateable property is owned or occupied by two persons, both of them are eligible to be enrolled.

If property is owned or occupied by more than two owners or occupiers or the owner or occupier is a body corporate, only two people can be nominated to enrol. The people concerned or the body corporate must nominate the same two people for all the properties within the district that are owned or occupied by the body corporate or people concerned.   The two people selected must be on the State or Commonwealth roll for where they live and must not already be on the district or ward roll in another capacity.

What if my property is divided between several wards?

If a property is divided by ward boundaries, a person is entitled to be enrolled only for the ward they nominate (not both). If they fail to nominate a ward, the CEO is to decide the ward.

What is the consolidated roll?

Once the roll has closed, and all accepted applications for the owners and occupiers roll have been entered the information is sent to the Western Australian Electoral Commission to be added to the residents roll.  A matching process takes place for consolidation of the two individual rolls. Effectively in a consolidated roll all names are recorded once only.