Sign Up for Joondalup

Voting in local government elections

Do you own or occupy a rateable property or business within the City of Joondalup? Then you can vote in the City’s local government elections. 

Why vote if I am a business owner or a non-resident owner of a rateable property within the City of Joondalup? 

• Local government is the closest sphere of government to the community. 
• Voting in a local government election gives you the opportunity to have a say on the people who make decisions that impact your day to day lives, including those of businesses. 
• The City of Joondalup council has approved the Small Business Friendly Approvals Program, which aims to reduce red tape for small businesses. 
• You might intend to live in City of Joondalup in the future if you own a property and therefore want to have a say in future developments. 

What is the owners/occupiers roll? 

Owners of land or nominees of corporate bodies who own or occupy rateable property but are not enrolled on the State electoral for that ward or district may apply to be on owners’/occupiers’ roll, providing they are on the State or Commonwealth Government electoral roll for a residential address outside that ward. 

Are people who do not live in the ward able to vote?  

Yes. Electors of a local government consist of eligible non-resident property owners and occupiers and residents of the ward. Local government provides services to both people and property and the rates are levied are paid not only by residents but also non-resident business owners. Where people personally own or occupy a property but are not residents of the district are also able to enrol to vote and nominate for council at the elections. 

Can I vote as a property owner, a resident and as a business owner within the City?  

All eligible electors are allowed to vote once in any ward where they are enrolled. If a person lives within one ward, and owns or occupies property or corporate body in a different district or ward, they may be entitled to a vote in both areas, provided they are enrolled for both. 

How do I enrol to vote? 

• Enrolment of non-resident owners or occupiers is not automatic. 
• When individuals are applying in their own names either as owners or occupiers, fill out the enrolment eligibility claim form and return it via post or email. 
• When individuals are being nominated by a business as owner nominees or occupier nominees, the application to register a corporate nominee form should be used because it allows for detail to be provided about the corporate body involved. 
• Enrolment claims can be lodged up to Friday 25 August 2023. 

For more information:  

• Read Voting in Local Government Elections
• Visit https://www.elections.wa.gov.au/enrol/local-government-enrolment 
• Or contact 9400 4000 or info@joondalup.wa.gov.au 

Interested in standing for Council?

Visit the Step Up for Joondalup page for information on nominating to stand for Council.

Changes to the current wards

In accordance with the Local Government Act 1995, Council was required to undertake a review of its ward names, boundaries and councillor representation levels by 10 December 2021. The review considered current ward boundaries, the number of wards, current names of wards, and the number of Councillors to represent each ward.

As part of the community consultation, the City received 72 submissions that, in the main, supported the retention of the current six-ward structure, the retention of current Councillor representation levels per ward, and the retention of the current ward names. The new ward structure will, however, result in some suburbs moving to a different ward.  View the New Ward Structure map.

The suburbs affected by the ward structure review are as follows:

• Iluka moves to North-Central Ward
• Mullaloo moves to Central Ward
• Kallaroo moves to South-West Ward
• Padbury moves to South Ward
• Warwick moves to South-East Ward

*Figures based on the 2021/22 annual report.