Local Government Elections
Local Government ordinary elections are held on the third Saturday in October every two years.
Elected Members are elected for terms of four years in Western Australia. Elections are held every two years for half of the council, and candidates are elected using the first-past-the-post voting system. If a vacancy occurs within a term, an extraordinary election is held. See Our Councillors page for current terms.
Nominating for Council
If you are contemplating nominating for Council you are encouraged to contact the Chief Executive Officer to arrange a personal briefing on matters including the structure of Local Government, the role of an elected member - responsibilities, accountability, rights, remuneration and how to become a councillor.
Nominations for the 2021 elections are open from Thursday 2 September 2021 to 4pm on Thursday 9 September 2021.
To be eligible to nominate you must be:
- 18 years of age or older;
- an elector of the district;
- an Australian citizen.
For further Information contact the Returning Officer on (08) 9885 1005 or email ceo@williams.wa.gov.au
Standing for Council
Stand for Council - It's rewarding!
If you want to make a difference in your community and have a say in local decision-making, consider standing for election as a local government councillor for the Shire of Williams
A councillor’s role is to: · represent the interests of electors, ratepayers and residents; · provide leadership and guidance to the community; · facilitate communication between the community and the council and vice versa; and participate in decision-making processes at meetings.
How do I check if I’m enrolled?
To check that you are correctly enrolled for your current address on the state roll, visit the Western Australian Electoral Commission website.
Enrolling to Vote
Elections are held every 2 years. Council usually holds in-person elections.
To be eligible to vote in local government elections, you need to be either a resident, an eligible non-resident owner or non-resident occupier of rateable property in the Shire of Williams or a nominee of a body corporate that owns or occupies rateable property in the district or ward. You must also be correctly enrolled to vote in State or Commonwealth elections and be at least 18 years of age on election day.
1. Residents:
A person who lives at an address in the Shire of Williams and is correctly enrolled on the State roll for that address is a resident of the district and automatically enrolled to vote in the district. To check that your enrolment is up to date, contact the WA Electoral Commission or phone 13 63 06. Enrolment forms may be obtained from the Williams Shire Office, any Post Office or from the WA Electoral Commission.
2. Non-resident owners and non-resident occupiers of rateable property:
Non-resident owners and non-resident occupiers of rateable property are not automatically enrolled. Non-residents who wish to vote in local government elections, or corporate bodies who wish to nominate people as nominees, should apply to the Chief Executive Officer.
Enrolment Eligibility Claim forms are available from the Shire Office.
Post or deliver your completed Enrolment Eligibility forms to: Shire of Williams, PO Box 96, WILLIAMS, WA, 6391
Further Information:
Available from the Department of Local Government or contact the Shire CEO on (08) 9885 1005, or ceo@williams.wa.gov.au .
How to Vote on election day
The Williams Shire Council resolved to hold “in person” elections at the Shire Office, 9 Brooking Street, Williams, from 8am to 6pm.
The next election day will be Saturday, 16th October 2021.
Can I vote early?
If you will find it difficult to vote on Election Day you are encouraged to vote early. Early Voting is available during normal office hours, 8.00am to 5.00pm, and up to 4.00pm on Friday, 15th October 2021.
How can I vote if I’m temporarily away from home in WA during the election period?
You may lodge an absent vote at any local government in Western Australia after the Election Notice has been published (shortly after the close of nominations). Alternatively, you may apply for postal voting papers to be sent to your temporary address. Please visit the WA Electoral Commission for more information on Postal Voting.
Close of absent voting and close of postal voting applications is 4pm on the 4th day before a Local Government election. Make sure that you return your voting package in time for it to be received by the last post before election day. More information on this can be found on page 2 of Form 12: Application for Postal Voting Papers.
How can I vote if I am interstate or overseas?
You may lodge a postal vote. This must be received by the close of poll at 6pm on Election Day.