This section contains a list of the most frequently asked questions about City of Stirling Council elections.
How many councillors are there in the City of Stirling?
There are 14 councillors—2 for each of the 7 electoral wards.
How long is the term of office of a councillor?
The term of office of a councillor is 4 years.
Who is eligible to vote in local government elections?
There are 4 categories of people eligible to vote in local government elections:
- Any person who is on the State Electoral Roll for an address within the boundaries of the City of Stirling. Please check which ward your address falls within.
- Any person who owns or occupies rateable property within the boundaries of the City of Stirling, but who appears on the State Electoral Roll for an address outside the electorate.
- Any person who is not an Australian citizen (and thus not eligible to be on the State or Federal electoral rolls) may vote in Council elections if the person appeared on Council’s 1996 electoral roll, and owned or occupied rateable property within the ward continuously since at least March 1996.
- Nominees for bodies corporate (companies) which own or occupy rateable property within the electorate. The body corporate may nominate up to 2 persons to vote on its behalf.
Do I have to apply to be onto a local government electoral roll?
Only those who fall in categories 2 to 4 above need to apply to be on the City’s electoral roll. Please go to the Election process and voting page for information on how to enrol.
Are directors of a company that owns property in the City eligible to vote on the company’s behalf?
Yes, provided the company nominates up to 2 directors and/or other persons to vote on its behalf. Please go to the Election process and voting page for more information.
Can a church nominate anyone to be on Council’s Electoral Roll?
Whether a church can nominate an elector depends on whether or not the property is rateable. Only the owners or occupiers of rateable property may enrol to vote. If the owner is a body corporate that owns rateable property, then the body corporate may nominate up to 2 persons to enrol on its behalf.
For example, if a church owns, 4 properties, and only 1 of these properties is rateable, then the church may nominate up to 2 persons to enrol on its behalf, and these 2 persons may vote only in the ward where the rateable property is situated.
If I am eligible to vote in Council elections, can I vote in State or Commonwealth elections?
Not necessarily. The electors who are eligible to vote at Council elections come from two separate rolls—the Residents Roll and the Owners and Occupiers Roll.
The Residents Roll comprises every elector on the State Electoral Roll with residential addresses within the City of Stirling’s boundaries. The Owners and Occupiers Roll comprises all electors who have completed the Electoral Form 2 to claim enrolment, because they aren’t otherwise eligible for the ward’s Residents Roll.
Only those who appear on the Residents Roll, since they are already on the State Electoral Roll, are eligible to vote in State and Commonwealth elections.
Do I have to be a ratepayer to vote at council elections?
No. Anyone who is listed on the current State Electoral Roll may vote in the local government ward where their address is situated.
In addition, anyone who occupies rateable property within the electorate may also be eligible to claim enrolment on Council’s Owners and Occupiers Roll.
I am not an Australian citizen, so I cannot vote in State or Federal elections, but can I vote at Council elections?
Yes, under certain conditions. Any person who is not an Australian citizen (and is not eligible to be on the State or Federal electoral rolls) may vote in Council elections, if they fulfil certain requirements. To claim eligibility the person must have appeared on Council’s 1996 electoral roll, and must have owned or occupied rateable property within the electorate continuously since at least March 1996.
How long is my enrolment on the Council’s Owners and Occupiers Roll valid?
If you enrol as an owner of rateable property (this includes nominees of a body corporate which owns property) then your enrolment remains valid for as long as you continue to own the property.
If you enrol as an occupier of rateable property then your enrolment remains valid for 2 ordinary elections. If your enrolment was lodged too late for an election, then it remains valid for a period which covers 3 elections, although you may not vote in the first election.
What is a silent elector?
A ‘silent elector’ is someone who believes that having his address displayed on an electoral roll may put his safety at risk.
Owners and Occupiers Roll: The elector can request the City’s CEO to withhold his or her address from the electoral roll, by completing a Statutory Declaration which states his or her reasons for the request. The elector’s address will be known only to electoral staff, as it is required for the purpose of posting out voting packages.
Residents Roll: Persons enrolling on the State or Commonwealth electoral roll who have a claim to be enrolled as a silent elector should contact the Australian Electoral Commission.
How often are Council elections held?
The City Council is required to hold elections every 2 years. The term of office of a councillor is 4 years, which means that in most cases half of the council is up for re-election every second year.
When is local government Election Day?
Local government elections are held throughout Western Australia on the third Saturday in October every odd-numbered year (2009, 2011, etc.).
Is voting at council Elections compulsory? Do I get fined if I don’t vote?
The answer to both questions is ‘No’.
Can I vote for The Mayor?
Some local governments in Western Australia currently provide for direct election of the Mayor, however, the Mayor of the City of Stirling is currently nominated by the Council from amongst the Councillors, rather than being elected directly by the electors.
I moved out of the City of Stirling months ago, but I haven’t changed my address with the State Electoral Commission. Can I still vote at Council elections for my old address?
No. A person who is not an elector cannot vote at the election even if the person’s name is on the electoral roll used for the election.
You should advise the Electoral Commission of your new address 1 month after moving address. Forms to do this can be obtained from any post office.
If I own more than one property, can I vote more than once?
That depends on whether you own rateable property in more than one ward. An election is deemed to be held only within a ward. The City of Stirling has 7 electoral wards, and so will have 7 separate elections (unless a candidate within a ward is unopposed). Owners are allowed to vote in each election for which their property or properties lie.
If I live outside the city, but own or occupy a property within the City of Stirling, can I vote?
Yes, provided you claim enrol with the City of Stirling. Please go to the Election process and voting page for information on how to enrol.
Where can I vote?
The City of Stirling now conducts its elections by postal voting.
A voting package, which consists of the ballot paper and candidate profiles, is posted to each elector about 3 weeks prior to Election Day—this allows plenty of time to vote and return the completed ballot paper in the envelope provided.
A polling station is also open on Election Day so that electors may return completed ballot papers in person if they need to (eg. if the elector forgot to post the ballot papers in time).
Do all councils have postal elections?
No. Although most councils in the Perth metropolitan area have postal elections, many in the rural area still operate a voting-in-person election.
When do enrolments for the Council elections close?
Enrolments close at 5.00 pm AWST on the 50th day prior to Election Day.
When do candidates nominate to stand for election?
The nomination period opens on the 44th day prior to Election Day, and close at 4.00 pm AWST on the 37th day prior to Election Day.
What time does the election close?
Polling closes on Saturday at 6 pm AWST.