Have your say about who represents you in your local area!
Local government elections are a vital part of Western Australia’s democratic system. The next Ordinary Postal Election will be held on Saturday 21 October 2023. 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. These need to be returned by mail by 21 October 2023.
You can personally deliver your completed election package to:
– the City of Joondalup Administration Office ballot box during business hours 8.30am – 5.00pm or
– the Joondalup Reception Centre on Saturday 21 October, between 8.00am and 6.00pm.
Local Government Elections 2023
The Mayor and Councillors are each elected for four-year terms, with half of the elected members being elected every biennial election. The 2023 election is not a Mayoral election, and the election will fill the following vacancies:
Reform of the Local Government Act 1995 and the October 2023 elections
The State Government is reforming the Local Government Act 1995 (the Act). The reforms are aimed at ensuring local governments better serve residents and ratepayers. The reforms have been crafted in consultation with the local government sector. They are the most significant reforms to the sector in 25 years.
The key electoral reforms that will be implemented for the October 2023 elections are:
introducing optional preferential voting, bringing local government elections back in line with State and Federal elections and restoring the right of electors to express preferences
requiring public election of the mayor or president for all larger councils (this is already being done at the City of Joondalup. However, there is no Mayoral election in 2023).
changes in representation including aligning the size of councils with the size of the population of each local government area (no changes required for the City of Joondalup).
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:
You may be eligible to be enrolled to vote in the local government elections on Saturday 21 October 2023 if you live in or are an owner or occupier of rateable property in the City of Joondalup.
Residents You are automatically enrolled to vote if you are on the State Electoral Roll as at Friday 25 August 2023, 5.00pm. If you are not already on the State Electoral Roll and meet the eligibility criteria, or if you have changed address recently, you must complete an enrolment form.
Non-Resident Owners and Occupiers If you are a non-resident owner or occupier of rateable property in the City of Joondalup and are on the State or Commonwealth Electoral Roll, you are eligible to enrol to vote. If you are not on the State or Commonwealth Electoral Roll and own or occupy rateable property in the City of Joondalup you may be eligible to enrol to vote. This applies if you were on the last electoral roll for the City of Joondalup prior to May 1996 and have owned or occupied rateable property in the district continuously since this time. Please contact your local government for details. Owners of land who were on the last Local Government roll continue to retain that status until they cease to own the rateable property to which the enrolment relates. Occupiers do not have continuous enrolment and should contact the City of Joondalup to confirm their enrolment status. To be eligible to enrol as an occupier, you will need to have a right of continuous occupation under a lease, tenancy agreement or other legal instrument for at least the next three months following the date of the application to enrol.
Joint Owners and Occupiers If a rateable property is owned or occupied by more than two people, a majority of the owners/occupiers may nominate two persons from amongst themselves who are on either the State or Commonwealth Electoral Roll, to enrol as owner/occupier electors.
Corporations A body corporate that owns or occupies rateable property may nominate two people who are on either the State or Commonwealth Electoral Roll to enrol as owner/occupier electors.
Enrolment Forms – Non-Resident Owners and Occupiers Only Enrolment forms can be obtained from local governments and must be lodged with the Chief Executive Officer by Friday 25 August 2023, 5.00pm. Further information can be obtained from the City of Joondalup.
Full details about eligibility and nomination procedures for prospective candidates can be obtained by contacting the Returning Officer, Michaela Miller or the Western Australian Electoral Commission on 13 63 06. Ms. Miller can be contacted on lgro_joondalup@elections.wa.gov.au or 0477 138 691.
An Ordinary Postal Election will be held on Saturday 21 October 2023 in the City of Joondalup to fill the following vacancies:
Central Ward
1 Councillor
4 year term
North Ward
1 Councillor
4 year term
North-Central Ward
1 Councillor
4 year term
South Ward
1 Councillor
4 year term
South-East Ward
1 Councillor
4 year term
South-West Ward
1 Councillor
4 year term
Nominations open on Thursday 31 August 2023
Nominations close on Thursday 7 September 2023, 4.00pm
Nominations must be lodged with the Returning Officer:
• at any time during the above period by arrangement; or
• between 2.00pm and 4.00pm Thursday 7 September 2023 (close of nominations) at the City of Joondalup, 90 Boas Avenue, Joondalup.
Nominations Requirements
Candidates are required to lodge with the Returning Officer:
a completed nomination in the prescribed form, signed and witnessed. This form is available from the Returning Officer or the Western Australian Electoral Commission (www.elections.wa.gov.au);
a single A4 page profile of not more than 1,000 characters (including spaces) containing information about the candidate;
a nomination deposit of $100 (cash, EFT, bank cheque or postal order);
(optional) in addition to your A4 profile, you may provide additional information that you consider to be relevant to your candidature. This written statement must be not more than 2,000 characters (including spaces), must be in the English language and is for publication on the local government’s official website.
The Commission has developed an online system called Nomination Builder to assist candidates to complete their nomination form which includes the candidate profile. This is the preferred method of completing the nomination form and profile for elections conducted by the Commission. Candidates complete their nomination details and profile, print the completed form which has a reference number allocated and lodge it with the Returning Officer. The nomination builder can be accessed via www.elections.wa.gov.au.
You cannot use Nomination Builder to prepare the additional information. Where an agent lodges a nomination on a candidate’s behalf, it must be in the prescribed form with a written authorisation signed by the candidate.
The documents may be hand delivered or posted to the Returning Officer and must be received by the close of nominations.
Candidate Webinar – WALGA
The recording from this webinar is available below.
How do I become a councillor?
To nominate to become an Elected Member (whether that be the Mayor or Councillor) you must:
Be 18 years of age or older.
Be an elector of the district (if you are only an elector because you are a nominee of a company then you are not eligible to stand as a candidate).
Complete the mandatory Local Government candidate induction eLearning module prior to nominating, accessed through the Department’s website.
What do I do as a Councillor?
Please read the Elected Member Handbookfor details on responsibilities, requirements, support, allowances, and a Becoming an Elected Member checklist.
How do I nominate to be a Councillor?
Nominations for a local government election open 31 August 2023 and close at 7 September 2023. Use the Western Australian Electoral Commission Nomination Builder to electronically complete the nomination form and candidate profile.
Candidates must complete their nomination details and profile, print the completed form which has a reference number allocated and lodge it with the Returning Officer. The nomination builder can be accessed through the electoral Commission’s website.
Why become a councillor and represent the City of Joondalup?
The City of Joondalup is a thriving City with 165,075 residents, 62,148 properties, 14,042 businesses, 351 parks, 159 community and civic buildings, 22 suburbs and 12 councillors that represent the districts.*
We want you to become one of the 12 councillors that can lead the City to achieving the below five goals:
The City of Joondalup has a vibrant cultural scene, and our community is friendly welcoming, caring and supportive. We encourage and support local organisations and community-led activities to feel connected and safe in our neighbourhoods.
We have a beautiful natural environment which we care for and protect. We demonstrate best practice in sustainability and environmental management.
We are a global City with a prosperous and resilient economy. Our City is home to diverse industries that generate a wide range of local job opportunities. We encourage creativity and innovations.
We have a diverse elected body that represent, promote, and reflect the composition of our community. Our Council and workforce are accountable and transparent and make balanced decisions based on sound, professional advice.
We have well-planned and attractive suburbs and streetscapes. A high standard of liveability is enjoyed by our community who can access quality facilities and public open spaces.
Does this sound like you and your values? Then Step Up for Joondalup and nominate yourself to be Councillor.
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:
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.
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:
The City of Joondalup local government elections are held every two years, on the third Saturday in October. The Mayor and Councillors are each elected for four-year terms, with half of the elected members being elected every biennial election.
The next ordinary election for the City of Joondalup will be held on Saturday 21 October 2023.
The Council has appointed the Western Australian Electoral Commission to run its elections and the Commission appoints a Returning Officer to oversee the elections including taking candidate nominations and supervising the count on election night.
