Elections and Voting FAQs

General information

When is the next local government election?
Saturday 21 October 2023.
Who conducts the elections?
The elections will be conducted by the Western Australian Electoral Commission (WAEC).
What are the current City of Cockburn Council vacancies?
There are four vacancies on Council:
  • East Ward: Two Councillors
  • West Ward: One Councillor
  • Central Ward: One Councillor
A four-year term applies to each.
Does the City have wards?How do I contact the Returning Officer?
The Returning Officer is Tracey Elliott. 
Mobile: 0456 395 428
Email: [email protected]

Eligibility and enrolment

Who can vote?
Residents who live in the City of Cockburn who are registered on the Electoral Roll, and non-resident owners or occupiers of rateable property in the City of Cockburn district.
Are people who do not live in the City of Cockburn able to vote?
Yes. Eligible non-resident property owners and occupiers and residents of the district can enrol to vote.
What is a non-resident owner?
A non-resident owner is a person who owns rateable land within the City of Cockburn district but is not a resident.
What is a non-resident occupier?
A non-resident occupier is a person, living outside the City of Cockburn district, who leases or occupies rateable property within the City.
When is the last day I can enrol to vote?
The deadline was the 25th August 2023.
How can I check my enrolment status?What is the voting entitlement per person or property?
A person may have their name on the roll only once for each ward regardless of the number of properties owned or occupied.
If I own multiple properties in the City, can I vote more than once?
If I own multiple properties in the City, can I vote more than once?

Candidate nominations

When does the candidate nominations period open and close?
Candidate nominations open on Thursday 31 August 2023 and close on Thursday 7 September 2023 at 4pm. 
Who can apply to be a candidate?
To stand for election as a Councillor, you must:
  • Be 18 years of age or older
  • Be an Australian citizen or a British subject prior to 26 January 1984
  • Be an elector of the City of Cockburn district
  • Have completed the mandatory Local Government Candidate Induction.
You are not eligible to nominate for council if you:
  • Are a member of State or Federal Parliament
  • Are an insolvent under administration
  • Are serving a prison sentence for a crime
  • Have been convicted of a serious local government offence within the last 5  years, (unless the court has waived the disqualification)
  • Have been convicted on indictment of an offence for which the penalty was or included imprisonment for life, or imprisonment for more than 5 years
  • Are a member of another council
  • Are subject to a court order disqualifying you from being a council member because you have misapplied local government funds or property
  • Are on the local electoral roll as the nominee of a body corporate
  • Propose standing for 2 positions on council (unless you are standing for mayor or president as well as councillor)
  • Are currently disqualified by the State Administrative Tribunal from holding office as a member of a council.
How do I apply to be a candidate?
Refer to our dedicated web page: Nominate to become a Councillor.

Voting

Is voting in local government elections compulsory?
​No, voting in local government elections is not compulsory in Western Australia.
Do I vote in person or by post?
Voting packs will be sent out in late September. Packs can be put in the mail or handed in at the City’s Administration building at 9 Coleville Crescent, Spearwood up until 6pm on election day.
When does the voting period close?
6pm on Saturday, 21 October 2023.
Can absent voting be arranged?
As it is a postal vote, the only way is to arrange for someone to post your voting pack to you.
What do I do if I have not received the voting pack?
As long as you are registered on the Electoral Roll, you can collect a new voting pack from the City's Administration Office.
How do I input my vote?
In 2023, local government elections in WA will move to optional preferential voting. It 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.
When are the votes counted?
The votes are counted after 6pm on Saturday, 21 October 2023.
Can I vote for the Mayor directly?
No. The Mayor is currently serving until 2025.

Related Pages

Contact

Address

City of Cockburn
Whadjuk Boodja
9 Coleville Crescent,
Spearwood 6163

PO Box 1215, Bibra Lake DC,
Western Australia, 6965

Office opening hours:
8.30am to 4.30pm
Monday to Friday (excluding public holidays)

Language Support

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Cockburn Nyungar moort Beeliar boodja-k kaadadjiny. Koora, yeyi, benang baalap nidja boodja-k kaaradjiny.
Ngalak kaditj boodjar kep wer kaadidjiny kalyakool yoodaniny, wer koora wer yeyi ngalak Birdiya koota-djinanginy.

City of Cockburn acknowledges the Nyungar people of Beeliar boodja. Long ago, now and in the future they care for Country.
We acknowledge a continuing connection to land, waters and culture and pay our respects to the Elders, past and present.