How elections are conducted
The City’s elections are conducted as postal elections that are run by the Western Australian Electoral Commission.
Election packages are posted to all electors on the electoral rolls used for the election, approximately three weeks before election day. Each person enrolled to vote on the City’s electoral roll will be issued a ballot package by mail which will provide details and instructions on how to vote.
For local government elections, the City uses two electoral rolls:
- Residents roll: residents who live in the City and are enrolled to vote in the State or Federal elections for where they live are automatically enrolled to vote (and appear on the Western Australian Electoral Commission’s Residents Roll).
- Non-residents owners and occupiers roll: owners or occupiers of rateable land who live outside of the district or ward in which the property is located may be entitled to nominate two people to vote on their behalf (and will appear on the City’s non-resident owners and occupier Roll.
Voting eligibility
You are eligible to vote in a Local Government Election if:
- You are a resident of the City of Joondalup and are enrolled to vote in State elections; or
- You are enrolled to vote in State or Federal elections, own or occupy rateable property in the City, and have made a successful eligibility claim.
You can confirm your enrolment details on the Australian Electoral Commission website.
Owners and occupiers roll
If you are enrolled to vote in State or Federal elections for a residential address outside of the City of Joondalup, and you own or occupy rateable property in the City, you are eligible to make a claim to be on the Owners and Occupiers Roll. To make a claim to be included on the Owners and Occupiers Roll, you must submit the relevant form to the City. The Chief Executive Officer will then make an assessment of the eligibility of the claim. If a claim is unsuccessful, the City will provide reasons why the claim was rejected.
Owner checks
- Are you enrolled to vote in State or Federal elections for a residential address outside of the City of Joondalup?
- Do you own rateable property in the City of Joondalup?
- You are not already enrolled to vote in the same ward?
Co-owner checks
In addition to the above:
- Do you have the support of a majority of the owners to claim enrolment?
Occupier checks
- Are you enrolled to vote in State or Federal elections for a residential address outside of the City of Joondalup?
- Do you occupy rateable property in the City of Joondalup?
- Do you have a right of occupation under a written legal instrument? For example, lease document.
- Is the leased property a residence?
- Do you have quiet enjoyment over at least 10m2 of the property?
- Do you pay the minimum amount of rent as prescribed in the Local Government (Elections) Regulations 1997.
- You are not already enrolled to vote in the same ward?
Co-occupier checks
In addition to the above:
- Do you have the support of a majority of the occupiers to claim enrolment?
Body corporate owner checks
- Is the nominee enrolled to vote in State or Federal elections for a residential address outside of the City of Joondalup?
- Is the property claimed rateable?
- Does the Body Corporate own the property?
- The nominee is not already enrolled to vote in the same ward?
Body corporate occupier checks
- Is the nominee enrolled to vote in State or Federal elections for a residential address outside of the City of Joondalup?
- Is the property claimed rateable?
- Does the Body Corporate have a right of occupation under a written legal instrument with the owner that meets the requirements of the Local Government Act 1995?
- The nominee is not already enrolled to vote in the same ward?