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State Elections
Who can vote?
When do I vote?
Where do I vote?
Do I have to vote?
Why should I vote?
How do I vote?
What if I make a mistake on the ballot paper?
Who am I voting for?
Marking your ballot paper correctly
Who can vote?
It is compulsory to vote in Australia at all State elections and referenda.
You can vote as long as you are:
- enrolled and
- 18 years of age or over.
Check enrolment eligibility criteria
When do I vote?
- Western Australian State General Elections are held approximately every four years.
State by-elections are held in circumstances where an elected member of the Legislative Assembly resigns or dies or is dismissed from office.
Polling day for all of the above elections are held on Saturdays. However, electors can cast an Early vote before polling day in certain circumstances.
Where do I vote?
Most electors will vote at their nearest polling place on polling day. Polling places will be advertised on or just before polling day and are open between 8.00am and 6.00pm. Premises used as polling places are usually schools and halls.
Do I have to vote?
Yes, voting is compulsory in Western Australian State elections. You may be fined if you do not vote. You must vote if you are enrolled and 18 years of age or over.
Why should I vote?
How do you get to have your say in such things as health care, unemployment and the environment? You can have a say in all important issues by voting! In a democracy, voting is your way of choosing who will represent you in Parliament, and who will make sure your views on these issues are heard.
How do I vote?
Voting in your electorate:
- Polling places are open from 8:00 a.m. until 6:00 p.m. on Polling Day.
- When you approach the polling place, supporters will usually be handing out 'How to Vote' cards for their candidates. These cards show the candidate's suggested preferences that support their interests. See Counting of Votes for more information about voting systems.
- The issuing officer will ask you, if you have voted before in this election, your name and your address.
- They will look up your name on the electoral roll.
- The electoral roll will be marked to ensure that you only vote once.
- At a State election, you will be issued with two ballot papers - one for your Legislative Assembly district and one for your Legislative Council region. At a by-election, you will be issued with a single ballot paper for the district in which the vacancy exists.
- When you cast your vote:
- proceed alone to a vacant voting screen.
- read the instructions printed on the ballot papers.
- fill in the ballot papers.
- fold the ballot papers to conceal the vote.
- put each ballot paper separately in the appropriate ballot. box.
If your name is not on the electoral roll but you believe it should be, you will be issued with a declaration vote.
If you are unable to or have difficulty writing or you do not understand the process, ask the Polling Place Manager for assistance.
What if I make a mistake on the ballot paper?
If you make a mistake on your ballot paper you should return to the polling official who gave you your ballot papers and ask for a new ballot paper. You will be given a fresh ballot paper once you return the ballot paper with the mistake.
Who am I voting for?
The Parliament of Western Australia consists of two 'Houses'. The Legislative Assembly or Lower House has 59 members. The Legislative Council or Upper House has 36 members. The party that has the majority of members in the Legislative Assembly forms the Government.
At a General Election, you will be voting for candidates to become members for both houses and so you will be given two ballot papers. Generally candidates and political parties will advertise their policies widely before the election, so that you can make your choice.
