LG Elections Notice
Published on Wednesday, 9 August 2023 at 9:40:17 AM
Local Government 2023 Elections
Enrolment & Voting
Residents
All residents in a local government district who are enrolled on the State Electoral Roll are automatically enrolled on the corresponding local government roll.
People who own or occupy property within a local government district can apply to their local government to be included in the roll as an owner/occupier, as long as they are eligible electors. Please note: an application must be made to the Shire of Meekatharra to be eligible to vote in the local government election.
All eligible electors are allowed to vote once in any district for which they are enrolled. There are no wards in the Shire of Meekatharra district. If a person lives within the local district and owns or occupies property in a different district, they may be entitled to a vote in both areas, provided they are enrolled for those addresses. For more information or to enrol as an owner/occupier, contact the Shire of Meekatharra.
Enrolment Forms
If you are not already on the State Electoral Roll and meet the eligibility criteria, or if you have changed address recently, you must complete an enrolment form.
Non-Resident Owner & Occupiers
If you are a non-resident owner or occupier of rateable property in the Shire of Meekatharra and are on the State or Commonwealth Electoral Roll, you are eligible to enrol to vote. If you are not on the State or Commonwealth Electoral Roll and own or occupy rateable property in the Shire of Meekatharra, you may still be eligible to enrol to vote.
This applies if you were on the last electoral roll for the Shire of Meekatharra prior to May 1996 and have owned or occupied rateable property in the district continuously since this time. Please contact the Shire for details.
Owners of land who were on the last Local Government roll continue to retain that status until they cease to own the rateable property to which the enrolment relates.
Occupiers do not have continuous enrolment and should contact the Shire of Meekatharra to confirm their enrolment status. To be eligible to enrol as an occupier, you will need to have a right of continuous occupation under a lease, tenancy agreement or other legal instruments for at least the next three months following the date of the application to enrol.
Enrolment on the Shire of Meekatharra Owners & Occupiers Roll open on the 5th of August 2023 and close at 4pm on the 19th of August 2023. Form 2 – Enrolment Eligibility Claim incorporating Notice of Nomination of co-owners or co-occupiers is available from Councils website www.meekashire.wa.gov.au or by contacting the Shire office on 99800600.
Joint Owner & Occupiers
If a rateable property is owned or occupied by more than two people, a majority of the owners/occupiers may nominate two persons from amongst themselves who are on either the State or Commonwealth Electoral Roll, to enrol as owner/occupier electors.
Corporations
A body corporate that owns or occupies rateable property may nominate two people who are on either the State or Commonwealth Electoral Roll to enrol as owner/occupier electors.
Election FAQ's
When is the election for the Shire of Meekatharra?
The election day is scheduled for Saturday 21st of October 2023.
Who is Entitled to Vote?
The roll for an election consists of:
- Meekatharra residents roll – this comprises individuals who live in the Shire of Meekatharra electorate and who are enrolled on the State Electoral Roll. Residents should direct enquiries about the Meekatharra residents roll to the Western Australian Electoral Commission on 13 63 06.
- Shire of Meekatharra non-resident owners and occupiers roll – this comprises individuals who own (but do not reside in) or occupy rateable property in the Shire and of individuals nominated by companies that own or occupy rateable property in the Shire. Non-resident owners and occupiers should contact the Shire on 9980 0600 with any enquiries about the Shire’s non-resident owner and occupier roll.
What is the Voting Entitlement per Person or Property?
A person may have his or her name on the roll only once regardless of the number of properties owned or occupied. A company may have a maximum of two people on the roll as nominees of that company regardless of the number of properties owned or occupied. “Occupation” means having a right under a lease, tenancy agreement or other legal instruments, to be in continuous occupation of a definable piece of rateable property for at least the next three months after the date of application.
Where do I get an Electoral Form to Apply for the Non-Resident Owner & Occupier Roll?
Enrolment forms may be obtained as follows:
• Email a request to ceo@meekashire.wa.gov.au
• Phone (08) 9980 0600
Who Conducts the Election?
The election will be conducted by the Shire of Meekatharra as an ‘in person’ election. Information containing details of the candidates who nominated will be available on Councils website, Notice Board and advertised locally. An election will be held should more nominations be received than vacancies.
Is Voting Compulsory?
No, voting in local government elections is not compulsory in Western Australia.
Is Early or Absent Voting Available?
Yes, early and absent voting for the Shire of Meekatharra elections is available. Details of how to vote early or by absent vote will be available following the close of nominations.