Are you eligible to vote?

One of the most important factors that determines if you are eligible to vote at local government elections is whether you are registered. For local government elections, the Shire of Ashburton (uses two electoral rolls –

  • a Residents Roll; and
  • a Non-Residents Owners and Occupiers Roll.

Elections – What’s new

New legislation came into effect from 1 January 2024 that imposes stricter requirements on occupier claims. Occupiers must:

  • provide a written lease, tenancy agreement or legal instrument to claim right of occupation;
  • have held occupation for 12 months prior to the election and hold occupation three months after the election;
  • have quiet enjoyment (exclusive occupation);
  • be able to secure the property;
  • genuinely operate a business from the property;
  • pay a minimum amount of rent based on the square meterage of the property; and
  • occupy a property of at least 10 square metres.

I am a resident

  • If you are already enrolled to vote in the State and Federal elections for the area in which you live, no further action is required. You will be entitled to one vote.
  • If you have recently moved to the Shire, turned 18 years of age or become an Australian citizen, you may need to check your enrolment status. 

I am a landlord who owns property in the Shire

  • If you own more than one property in a ward and are already enrolled to vote, there is no need to enrol again. You will be entitled to one vote.
  • If you own a property in a ward but are not a resident in that ward, you can enrol to vote in that ward by completing and lodging a form 2. You can vote only once.
  • If your property is owned by more than one person, up to two owners can enrol to vote but names must be listed on the title. If there are more than two owners of a property, please complete and lodge a form 2B to nominate which two owners are enrolled to vote.

I am a business owner who owns or leases property in the Shire

Do you live in the same award as your business?

If you live in the same ward in which your business is located, there is no need to enrol again. You will be entitled to one vote. If your business is a corporate body, you may be able to nominate up to two people to vote on behalf of the corporate body by completing and lodging a form 2D. Please ensure you also complete and lodge a form 2A, if the body corporate owns the property. If a body corporate is occupying (leasing) the property a form 2B will also need to be completed and lodged.

If you live in a different ward to your business.

If you run a business in the Shire and are not a resident in the ward where the business is located, you can also enrol to vote in that ward by completing and lodging a form 2A if you own or co-own the property. If you occupy (lease) the property, please complete and lodge a form 2B.

You can vote only once in the ward in which your business is located, and once in the ward in which you are a resident.

If you are a business owner and you live outside the Shire

If you run a business in the Shire but do not live here, you can enrol to vote in the ward in which your business is located by completing and lodging a form 2A if you own the property, or a form 2B if you occupy (lease) the property.

You will need to either own or lease the property from which your business is located. You can vote only once in each ward for which you own or occupy property.

If your property is owned or leased by more than two people, please also complete and lodge a form 2C to nominate up to two owners or occupiers to enrol to vote on behalf of the group.

If your business is a corporate body or a company (e.g. Pty, Ltd), please review the following information.

I am part of a corporate body that leases or owns property in the Shire

A corporate body is a separate legal entity. Examples include:

  • A company (Pty, Ltd, you will have a Company Number/Registration Number)
  • A body corporate (a strata)
  • An incorporated association

If your business is a separate legal entity, you can nominate up to two people to vote on behalf of the business or body corporate by completing and lodging a form 2D. The nominee of a body corporate is required to be an officer or employee of the body corporate.

The corporate body will need to either lease or own property in the Shire. Your two nominees will be able to vote once each.

Those nominated to vote on behalf of the corporate body cannot already be enrolled to vote for the ward in which your corporate body owns or leases property.

Lodgement

Completed eligibility claims can be sent by post to:

Chief Executive Officer

Shire of Ashburton

PO Box 567 Tom Price WA 6280, or by email to [email protected]

General Information

Enrolment claims can be lodged at any time however, enrolments for any particular election close 57 days before election day.

All eligibility claims are reviewed periodically to ensure ongoing eligibility.