Local Government

The Electoral Commissioner is responsible for conducting postal elections in Western Australia and conducts voting in person elections on request under the Local Government Act 1995.  By making the Electoral Commissioner responsible for these elections, the local governments concerned ensure that elections are conducted independently and with impartiality.  In addition, these local government have adopted a method of conducting elections that is more convenient for electors and typically achieves a higher rate of voter participation.

Postal elections for local government were first trialled by four local governments in 1995. This increased to eight in 1997, 34 in 1999, 47 in 2001, 55 in 2003, 50 in 2005, 64 in 2007, and 69 in 2009.

On 15 October 2011, the Electoral Commission conducted 74 postal elections and 2 voting in person elections, involving around 95% of enrolled electors throughout Western Australia.

Local Government Election Centre