Local Government Elections

Local government ordinary elections are held on the third Saturday in October every two years. The next state-wide ordinary elections are scheduled for Saturday 18 October 2025.

The Shire of Wongan-Ballidu Council currently comprises a President, Deputy President and five council members. 

Councillors are elected for terms of four years in Western Australia. If a vacancy occurs within a term, an extraordinary election is held.

Voting in a Local Government Election

All local residents and business owners/occupiers are encouraged to enrol to vote in local government elections. 

All residents registered on the State/Federal electoral roll for properties within the Shire of Wongan-Ballidu will be automatically registered for Local Government Elections.

To check and/or update your enrolment details please visit the Western Australian Electoral Commission's website below.

WA Electoral Commission - Check or Update Your Enrolment

If you own or occupy property in the Shire but don’t live here, then you may still be eligible to vote. You may enrol up to two Owners/Nominees per property by filling in the Enrolment Eligibility Claim Form below.  Enrolment forms must be lodged by 5pm, Friday 25th August 2023 to be eligible to vote in the 2023 Local Government Elections.  

Local Government Reform - Optional Preferential Voting

Preferential voting is the same method used in state and federal elections. Optional preferential voting means you are not required to provide all preferences in casting your vote.

Optional preferential voting means that to be elected you need to either achieve a majority of votes in the count for a single vacancy or a quota of votes where there is more than one vacancy to be filled. As a result, the candidates elected are more representative of the majority of voters.

Under the current first-past-the-post voting system candidates have been elected with as little as 4.71% of the vote.

Councils will be more representative of the majority of voters with greater opportunities for a diversity of representation and views on council.

Optional Preferential Voting videoOptional Preferential Voting video (mp4) (79917 KB)

Local Government Reform - Induction for Prospective Candidates

It is compulsory to complete Local Government Candidate Induction this induction before you nominate. The induction should take approximately thirty minutes to complete.

Induction for prospective candidates | DLGSC

At the end of the course, you must complete the online registration to receive an email from the department which is an official record of your completion of the induction.

Councillors are elected by residents and ratepayers and have an exciting and challenging role. They must be in touch with their community and balance community needs within a framework of financial accountability.  Standing for election provides a great opportunity to influence the future direction of the local community and help those who require support. It can be daunting and time consuming, but ultimately it can be highly rewarding.

All, or a majority of, owners or occupiers may make a claim for eligibility using this form at any time. However, if you want to be represented on the roll for a particular election you must give this claim form to the local government more than 50 days before the election date (close of rolls). Please note that if you are applying to vote as an occupier of a property, you must include a copy of your lease agreement showing that you have the right to occupy the property for at least the next three months.