Information for voters

The City has previously appointed the Western Australian Electoral Commission to conduct its elections by postal vote. Postal voting enables electors to submit their vote before election day. The counting of votes commences at 6 pm on election day and once the counting of votes has been finalised the result will be announced by the Returning Officer.

Key dates

Friday, 22 August 2025 at 5pm – Close of applications to enrol to vote

Saturday, 18 October 2025 – Election day
Who can vote?

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.

Owners and Occupiers including Body Corporates
People who own or occupy property within a local government district, can apply to their local government to be included on the roll as an owner or occupier, as long as they are eligible electors. A body corporate may apply to have up to two eligible electors to be included on the owner and occupier roll.
How do I check my enrolment or update my enrolment details?

Residents

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

To vote in the 2025 election you must be enrolled to vote by 22 August 2025 at 5pm, when enrolment closes.

To ensure you get your postal election package, please ensure your postal address is updated with the Western Australian Electoral Commission.

Non-Resident Owners and Occupiers

Non-resident owners remain on the roll until the property is sold, or if you are a Body Corporate nominee, you may be removed if the Body Corporate wishes to change its nominees.

Non-resident occupiers remain on the roll for 2 ordinary elections plus 6 months, or if you are a Body Corporate nominee, you may be removed if the Body Corporate wishes to change its nominees.

Contact the City at election@cityofperth.wa.gov.au to check if you are on the City of Perth Owners and Occupiers roll or to find out how to update or renew your enrolment details.

Business/Body Corporate Owners and Occupiers

You can email election@cityofperth.wa.gov.au to check your nominees or update the contact details of your existing nominees.

We encourage you to check your nominees a few months before the close of electoral rolls, to enable us to remove any nominees and assess new claims for alternative nominees.

To change your nominees, it is encouraged that existing nominees personally email election@cityofperth.wa.gov.au to remove themselves from the roll so that new nominees may be considered immediately.

If your current nominees do not email personally then the City will advise them of your proposal to remove them and must, in accordance with section 4.35(2) of the Local Government Act 1995, give them 28 days to provide submissions to the City about why they should not be removed.

Alternatively a new application can be submitted if the existing nominees personally email election@cityofperth.wa.gov.au to remove themselves from the roll.
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 or the WA Electoral Commission website.

To vote in the 2025 election you must be enrolled to vote by 22 August 2025 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 Form 2 Enrolment Eligibility Claim and send it to:

City of Perth
27 St Georges Tce
Perth WA 6000

or

info.city@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 2025 election you must be enrolled to vote by 22 August 2025 at 5pm, when enrolment closes.

Non-Resident Property Occupiers
If you have:

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 Form 2 Enrolment Eligibility Claim 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.city@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 2025 election you must be enrolled to vote by 22 August 2025 at 5pm, when enrolment closes.

Note: From 1 January 2024, you must have continuously occupied rateable property under a lease or other legal instrument for at least 12 months prior to your claim.

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 within the City of Perth, 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 the Modified Form 2 Enrolment Eligibility Claim and send it to:

City of Perth
27 St Georges Tce
Perth WA 6000

or

info.city@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 vote in the 2025 election your nominees must be enrolled to vote by 22 August 2025 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 within the City of Perth, 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 the Modified Form 2 Enrolment Eligibility Claim 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.city@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 vote in the 2025 election your nominees must be enrolled to vote by 22 August 2025 at 5pm, when enrolment closes.

Note: From 1 January 2024, you must have continuously occupied rateable property under a lease or other legal instrument for at least 12 months prior
to your claim.
Why do I have to provide a copy of my lease, tenancy agreement etc?

Under the Local Government Act 1995 and the Local Government (Elections) Regulations 1997 the Chief Executive Officer can make inquires to determine a person's eligibility for enrolment, including asking for a copy of a lease or tenancy agreement to support a claim for enrolment.
Where can I vote?

The election is conducted via postal voting and we encourage you to complete your package and return it via post it in the reply paid envelope. However following the delivery of ballot paper packages to electors, a ballot box will be available on the ground floor of Council House Monday to Friday 9am - 5pm and on election day from 8am - 6pm.
How do I vote?

Electors will receive an election package containing ballot paper(s), candidate profiles, a declaration envelope and pre-paid return envelope, approximately three weeks before the election.

To vote, complete the ballot paper(s), place them in the declaration envelope and sign the envelope. Place the signed declaration envelope in the pre-paid envelope and post the envelope in the mail.

Following the delivery of ballot paper packages to electors a ballot box will be on ground floor of Council House Monday to Friday 9am - 5pm and on election day from 8am - 6pm.
What is the system for counting votes?

Optional preferential voting (OPV) is the voting system for local government elections.

Information on Optional Preferential Voting can be found on the Department of Local Government Sports and Cultural Industries (DLGSC) website.