Information for voters

City of Perth voters have the unique opportunity to decide the capital city Council on behalf of all Western Australians. It is a privilege that is afforded to less than one per cent of the State's population.

Who can vote?

RESIDENTS
Residents of the City are eligible to vote in Council elections if they are enrolled on state electoral roll for an address in the City of Perth. Residents can check whether they are enrolled to vote by visiting the Western Australian Electoral Commission website.

NON-RESIDENT PROPERTY OWNERS
You may be eligible to vote in Council elections if you own property within the City of Perth district and you are listed on the federal electoral roll, but not within the City of Perth.

NON-RESIDENT PROPERTY OCCUPIERS
You may be eligible to vote in Council elections if you can demonstrate that you have the legal right to occupy rateable property for at least the next three months within the City of Perth and you are listed on the federal electoral roll, but not within the City of Perth.

BUSINESS PROPERTY OWNERS OR OCCUPIERS
Body corporate entities that own property within Perth city or can demonstrate that they have the legal right to occupy rateable property for at least the next three months, can nominate two people to vote on behalf of the body corporate who must be on the federal electoral roll, but not within the City of Perth.
How do I enrol?
RESIDENTS
Persons who are on the state electoral roll for an address within the City of Perth are automatically enrolled to vote in a City of Perth election.

You can update your state electoral enrolment through the Australian Electoral Commission website.

To vote in the 21 October 2023 election you must be enrolled to vote by 1 September 2023 at 5pm, when enrolment closes.

NON-RESIDENT PROPERTY OWNERS
If you personally own rateable property in the City of Perth but do not reside in that property, you may be eligible to vote, provided you are enrolled to vote in a State or Federal election.

To apply to enrol as a non-resident owner, complete the Application for Inclusion on the Owners and Occupiers Roll form and send it to:

City of Perth
27 St Georges Tce
Perth WA 6000

or

info@cityofperth.wa.gov.au

The City will consider your claim, determine whether you are eligible and inform you of the outcome of your application in writing. You may be asked during this process for information such as:

Proof of your ownership and/or rateability of your property

Proof of your enrolment in a state or federal election

If you own your property jointly with two or more people, a nomination from a majority of those owners

If you can provide evidence of your claim such as those matters listed above at the time of submitting your enrolment claim it will allow for a more rapid assessment by the City.

To vote in the 21 October 2023 election you must have submitted your application to be enrolled to vote by 1 September 2023 at 5pm, when enrolment closes.

NON-RESIDENT PROPERTY OCCUPIERS
If you have:

a. a right of occupation over rateable property (or part of) under a lease, tenancy agreement or other legal instrument, and
b. the right of occupation is for at least the next three months in the City of Perth,

but do not reside in that property, you may be eligible to vote, provided you are enrolled to vote in a State or Federal election.

To apply to enrol as a non-resident occupier, complete the Application for Inclusion on the Owners and Occupiers Roll form and provide a copy of your lease, tenancy agreement or other legal agreement giving a right of occupation for at least the next three months and send it to:

City of Perth
27 St Georges Tce
Perth WA 6000

or

info@cityofperth.wa.gov.au

The City will consider your claim, determine whether you are eligible and inform you of the outcome of your application in writing. You may be asked during this process for information such as:

Further proof of your right of occupation of your property for at least the three months such as your lease, tenancy agreement or other legal instrument

Proof that your lease, tenancy agreement or other legal instrument has the consent (or did not require the consent) of the owner of the property if your lease, tenancy agreement or other legal instrument is not with the owner

Proof the land you occupy is rateable

Proof of your enrolment in a state or federal election, and

If you occupy your property jointly with two or more people, a nomination from a majority of those occupiers

If you can provide evidence of your claim such as those matters listed above at the time of submitting your enrolment claim it will allow for a more rapid assessment by the City.

To vote in the 21 October 2023 election you must have submitted your application to be enrolled to vote by 1 September 2023 at 5pm, when enrolment closes.

BUSINESS/BODY CORPORATE PROPERTY OWNERS
If your business/body corporate owns a property in the City of Perth, you may be eligible to nominate up to two people, who are not already enrolled to vote, to vote on your businesses/body corporates behalf, provided they are enrolled to vote in a State or Federal election.

To nominate electors, complete all sections of Application to Nominate Electors on the Owners and Occupiers Roll For, and send it to:

City of Perth
27 St Georges Tce
Perth WA 6000

or

info@cityofperth.wa.gov.au

The City will consider your claim, determine whether you are eligible and inform you of the outcome of your application in writing. You may be asked during this process for information such as:

Proof of your businesses/body corporates ownership and/or rateability of the property

Proof of your nominees enrolment in a state or federal election

Proof that your businesses/body corporates is registered with the relevant state or federal authority to give it legal standing as a body corporate

If you own your property jointly with two or more people or businesses/body corporates, a nomination from a majority of those owners

If you can provide evidence of your claim such as those matters listed above at the time of submitting your enrolment claim it will allow for a more rapid assessment by the City.

To have your nominees vote in the 21 October 2023 election you must have submitted your application to nominate voters by 1 September 2023 at 5pm, when enrolment closes.

BUSINESS/BODY CORPORATE PROPERTY OCCUPIERS
If your business/body corporate occupies a property in the City of Perth, you may be eligible to nominate up to two people, who are not already enrolled to vote, to vote on your businesses/body corporates behalf, provided they are enrolled to vote in a State or Federal election.

To nominate electors, complete all sections of Application to Nominate Electors on the Owners and Occupiers Roll Form and provide a copy of your lease, tenancy agreement or other legal agreement giving a right of occupation for at least the next three months and send it to, and send it to:

City of Perth
27 St Georges Tce
Perth WA 6000

or

info@cityofperth.wa.gov.au

The City will consider your claim, determine whether you are eligible and inform you of the outcome of your application in writing. You may be asked during this process for information such as:

Proof of your businesses/body corporates right of occupation of the property for at least the three months such as your lease, tenancy agreement or other legal instrument;

Proof that your lease, tenancy agreement or other legal instrument has the consent (or did not require the consent) of the owner of the property if your lease, tenancy agreement or other legal instrument is not with the owner;

Proof the land you occupy is rateable;

Proof of your nominees enrolment in a state or federal election;

Proof that your businesses/body corporates is registered with the relevant state or federal authority to give it legal standing as a body corporate;

If you own your property jointly with two or more people or businesses, a nomination from a majority of those owners;

If you can provide evidence of your claim such as those matters listed above at the time of submitting your enrolment claim it will allow for a more rapid assessment by the City.

To have your nominees vote in the 21 October 2023 election you must have submitted your application to nominate voters by 1 September 2023 at 5pm, when enrolment closes.
How do I check my enrolment or update my enrolment details?

RESIDENTS
Persons who are on the state electoral roll for an address within the City of Perth are automatically enrolled to vote in a City of Perth election.

You can update your state electoral enrolment through the Australian Electoral Commission website.

To vote in the 21 October 2023 election you must be enrolled to vote by 1 September 2023 at 5pm, when enrolment closes.

NON RESIDENT OWNERS AND OCCUPIERS

If you are already enrolled to vote you can contact the City at elections@cityofperth.wa.gov.au to check or update your enrolment details.

BUSINESS/BODY CORPORATE OWNERS AND OCCUPIERS

If you have nominees currently on the electoral roll you can email elections@cityofperth.wa.gov.au to check your nominees or update the contact details of your existing nominees.

To change your nominees, you will be required to submit a new Application to Nominate Electors on the Owners and Occupiers Roll Form.

Your current nominees will be advised of your proposal to remove them and given 28 days to provide submissions to the City about why they should not be removed. To ensure there is enough time to provide the 28 days’ notice and for the City to review your application, election you must have submitted your application to nominate voters by Monday 14 August 2023 at 5pm.

Alternatively your new nominees can be immediately considered if the existing nominees personally email elections@cityofperth.wa.gov.au to remove themselves from the roll.

If you submit an application for new nominees without the existing nominees consent after 5pm Friday 18 August 2023 your application will still be processed, however they will not be able to vote until subsequent elections.
How to vote

The election will be conducted via postal voting. Historically, the City has appointed the Western Australian Electoral Commission (WAEC) to run the election. A determination on this for the 2023 Election is still to be made.

Electors will receive an election package containing one ballot paper to vote for Councillors, candidate profiles, a declaration envelope and pre-paid return envelope, approximately three weeks before the election.

To vote, complete the ballot papers, place them in the declaration envelope and then the pre-paid envelope and post the envelope in the mail. A ballot box will be on ground floor of Council House A ballot box will be on ground floor of Council House Monday to Friday 8:30am - 5:30pm and on Saturday, 21 October 2023 from 8am - 6pm to enable electors to return their ballot papers in person.

Please refer to the Australia Post website for the most up to date information on letter delivery times.
Key dates

Friday, 1 September 2023 at 5pm - Close of applications to enrol to vote
Saturday, 21 October 2023 - Election day