The Shire of Toodyay’s most recent Ordinary Council Election was held on 21 October 2023 via postal voting. The Western Australian Electoral Commission (WAEC) conducted this postal election on the Shire’s behalf.
Postal voting packages are sent out to all electors three weeks prior to the election date. To be included in the count, ballot papers must be filled in and sealed as per the included instructions and either a) received via post by the election date, or b) deposited in the ballot box at the Shire Administration Centre by 6pm on election day. If you have not received a postal voting package in the period prior to any postal election, please contact WAEC.
Voting in local government elections is not compulsory in Western Australia, but all local electors are strongly encouraged to vote.
Are you enrolled to vote?
You may be eligible to be enrolled to vote in local government elections if you live in or are an owner/occupier of rateable property in the Shire of Toodyay.
You must confirm your enrolment details for or enrol to vote prior to any upcoming election, by the relevant WAEC deadline. Visit the WAEC website to check your details or to enrol online. Physical enrolment forms are available from the WAEC office or any Australian Electoral Commission (AEC) office.
Eligibility enrolment claim forms – for non-resident owners and occupiers of property in the Shire – are available here. These must be lodged with the Chief Executive Officer at least 50 days before the relevant election date.
Are you considering nominating for Council?
Check your eligibility to nominate for Council here. More information for candidates, including how to nominate and nomination requirements, is available here.
The WA Local Government Association (WALGA) held a Candidate Information Briefing webinar in 2023 to inform and prepare prospective candidates. This can be viewed below.
For further details regarding eligibility and nomination procedures, please contact WAEC on 13 63 06.
Disclosure of Electoral Gifts
Candidates and donors of electoral gifts must disclose any gifts received, made or promised during the disclosure period. This period runs until the day of swearing-in for successful candidates, and three days after election day for unsuccessful candidates.
Electoral gifts must be disclosed either:
- Within three days of nomination (if the gift is received, made or promised before the nomination of the candidate); or
- Within three days of receipt, delivery or promise of the gift (once the candidate has been nominated)
An electoral gift is any gift for the purposes of the Local Government (Elections) Regulations 1997, where:
- The gift is linked to the candidate’s candidacy; and
- The value of the donation is $300 or more, or it is one of two or more gifts made by a person during the disclosure period and with a total value of $300 or more
Donors of electoral gifts are closely-associated persons as defined by the Regulations. Before accepting campaign gifts, candidates should consider how the acceptance may affect their ability to participate in future decision-making processes of Council.
Electoral gifts do not include the provision of volunteer labour, gifts in a will, or gifts by a relative (as defined by section 5.74(1) of the Act).
To disclose an electoral gift, please submit a Gift Disclosure Form (Electoral).
Electoral Gifts Register
Local Government Reforms
The State Government has recently made changes to the Local Government Act 1995. These changes aim to ensure local governments can better serve residents and ratepayers.
The key reforms relevant to future Shire of Toodyay elections are:
- Optional preferential voting – bringing local government elections in line with State and Federal elections and restoring the right of voters to express preferences
- Changes to Council representation – Toodyay’s Council has been reduced from nine (9) Elected Members to seven (7), aligning the size of the Council with the size of the population
More information about these reforms is available here.