Elections

Applications to nominate as a candidate open August 31^st and close at 4pm September 07^th. 

Council members play an important community leadership role and being on a council is one way you can ensure community perspectives are heard and considered in local decision-making.

The role of an Elected Member is set out under section 2.10 of the Local Government Act 1995, with Councillors to represent and provide leadership to electors, ratepayers, and residents and to facilitate communication between the community and the Council.

Scheduled candidate information sessions

• DISABILITY SESSION Monday 07 Aug 2023 – 5:00pm – 7:00pm.
  • This session is live streamed, for more information and to register visit Becoming an elected council member forum (dlgsc.wa.gov.au
• YOUTH SESSION Thursday 10 Aug 2023 – 6:00pm – 8:00pm.
  • A recording of this session will be available online at Website Title (umso.co) , a session was also held on August 1 and the recording is accessibleathttps://perthvideo.net/yacwa-1aug2023
• WALGA/ DLG ELECTION CANDIDATE INFORMATION BRIEFING WEBINAR Monday 14 Aug 2023 – 6:00pm – 8:00pm REAP Studio Room
  • To watch visit LG Candidate Briefing - YouTube
• CITY OF KARRATHA CANDIDATE INFORMATION SESSION Monday 28 August 2023 – 5pm – 6pm at the Council Chambers, City of Karratha Administration Building, Welcome Road, Karratha
  • To watch visit Candidates Information Session - YouTube

If you are considering nominating as a candidate for the mayoral election and/or the councillor election, you will need to:

• Undertake a mandatory online induction on the Department of Local Government’s website – Go to: Induction for prospective candidates | DLGSC
• Complete your nomination using Nomination Builder, together with your profile and $100 deposit – Go to: Local Government Candidates | Western Australian Electoral Commission (elections.wa.gov.au) If you anticipate to run in both the Mayoral Election AND the Councillor Election, you will need to submit two nominations.
• Make an appointment with the Returning Officer (RO) Sharyn Morrow (0448 205 392) anytime between when nominations open on 31 August 2023 and close at 4pm on 7 September 2023. Please note that your RO appointment may take up to 30 minutes to finalise your application so do not leave your appointment until 3pm as you may risk missing out. Sharyn will be available in Karratha over the weekend 2-3 September 2023 to meet with anyone and take their nominations. 
• Any nominations received by the Returning Officer during the nomination period will be uploaded to the City’s website and election page as they are finalised by the RO.

Any advertising in public places and thoroughfares requires a permit from the City of Karratha beforehand. All advertising material requires name and address of printer. Check out DR08_Signs_on_Public_Land_Policy.pdf (karratha.wa.gov.au)

The next Ordinary Local Government Election will be held on Saturday 21 October 2023.

Voting packs will be distributed by the Western Australian Electoral Commission approx. four to five weeks prior to the election. 

Follow the instructions on your voting pack as to how to properly fill out your ballot paper. Your completed vote can be either:

• Posted: votes must be mailed to WAEC before the election to ensure they are counted; or

• Hand delivered: drop it into the secure ballot box at the City of Karratha Main Administration Building on Welcome Road Karratha

• Election Day: Electors can drop off their completed voting package at the City of Karratha Council Chambers on Welcome Road, Karratha, and any outreach polling stations within the City of Karratha.

You can enrol online or complete an enrolment form if you are a resident of the City of Karratha and you want to change your details, or enrol to vote for the first time.

You can use the Enrolment Eligibility Claim form if you are an owner or occupier of land within the City but live in a different local government district. Please forward this form by email or post to the City as soon as possible to ensure that you are included on the roll for the next election.

If your claim is accepted, you will be enrolled on the Owners and Occupiers Roll for the City of Karratha for a period of two ordinary election cycles. After the second election, you will need to re-enrol. 

If you have any questions, please contact the Governance team at the City of Karratha.

Make sure your electoral roll details are up to date.

All residents in a local government district who are enrolled on the State Electoral Roll are automatically enrolled on the corresponding local government roll.

Maintaining your details on the electoral roll will ensure you are not removed from the roll. If you have moved, you are eligible to enrol at your new address if you have lived there for at least one month. Other personal details may be updated at any time.

Residents have until August 25^thto update their details to be eligible to vote for the 2023 local government elections.

To update your details or to make sure they are accurate visit Enrol to vote or update your details - Australian Electoral Commission (aec.gov.au)

Western Australian Electoral Commission
https://www.elections.wa.gov.au/elections/local

Department of Local Government and Communities
www.dlgsc.wa.gov.au/localgovernment/forcommunity/Pages/Council-Elections.aspx
Election Toolkit
Induction for prospective candidates
Local Government Reform
Elections Timeline

Western Australian Local Government Association
www.walga.asn.au