Who can Vote?

RESIDENTS

Residents of the Shire are eligible to vote in Council elections if they are enrolled on the state electoral roll for an address in the Shire of Merredin. Residents can check whether they are enrolled to vote by visiting the Western Australian Electoral Commission website.

NON-RESIDENT PROPERTY OWNERS

You may be eligible to vote in Council elections if you own property within the Shire of Merredin district and you are listed on the federal electoral roll, but not within the Shire of Merredin.

NON-RESIDENT PROPERTY OCCUPIERS

You may be eligible to vote in Council elections if you can demonstrate that you have the legal right to occupy rateable property for at least the next three months within the Shire of Merredin and you are listed on the federal electoral roll, but not within the Shire of Merredin.

BUSINESS PROPERTY OWNERS OR OCCUPIERS

Body corporate entities that own property within Merredin or can demonstrate that they have the legal right to occupy rateable property for at least the next three months, can nominate two people to vote on behalf of the body corporate who must be on the federal electoral roll, but not within the Shire of Merredin.

How do I enrol?

RESIDENTS

Persons who are on the state electoral roll for an address within the Shire of Merredin are automatically enrolled to vote in a Shire of Merredin election.

You can update your state electoral enrolment through the Australian Electoral Commission website.

To vote in the 21 October 2023 election you must be enrolled to vote by 25 August 2023 at 5pm, when enrolment closes.

NON-RESIDENT PROPERTY OWNERS

If you personally own rateable property in the Shire of Merredin but do not reside in that property, you may be eligible to vote, provided you are enrolled to vote in a State or Federal election.

To apply to enrol as a non-resident owner, complete the Application for Inclusion on the Owners and Occupiers Roll Form and send it to:

Shire of Merredin

PO Box 42

Merredin WA 6415

OR

admin@merredin.wa.gov.au

The Shire will consider your claim, determine whether you are eligible and inform you of the outcome of your application in writing. You may be asked during this process for information such as:

• Proof of your ownership and/or rateability of your property
• Proof of your enrolment in a state or federal election
• If you own your property jointly with two or more people, a nomination from a majority of those owners

If you can provide evidence of your claim such as those matters listed above at the time of submitting your enrolment claim it will allow for a more rapid assessment by the Shire.

To vote in the 21 October 2023 election you must have submitted your application to be enrolled to vote by 25 August 2023 at 5pm, when enrolment closes.

NON-RESIDENT PROPERTY OCCUPIERS

If you have:

1. a right of occupation over rateable property (or part of) under a lease, tenancy agreement or other legal instrument, and
2. the right of occupation is for at least the next three months in the Shire of Merredin,

but do not reside in that property, you may be eligible to vote, provided you are enrolled to vote in a State or Federal election.

To apply to enrol as a non-resident occupier, complete the Application for Inclusion on the Owners and Occupiers Roll Form and provide a copy of your lease, tenancy agreement or other legal agreement giving a right of occupation for at least the next three months and send it to:

Shire of Merredin

PO Box 42

Merredin WA 6415

OR

admin@merredin.wa.gov.au

The Shire will consider your claim, determine whether you are eligible and inform you of the outcome of your application in writing. You may be asked during this process for information such as:

• Further proof of your right of occupation of your property for at least the three months such as your lease, tenancy agreement or other legal instrument
• Proof that your lease, tenancy agreement or other legal instrument has the consent (or did not require the consent) of the owner of the property if your lease, tenancy agreement or other legal instrument is not with the owner
• Proof the land you occupy is rateable
• Proof of your enrolment in a state or federal election, and
• If you occupy your property jointly with two or more people, a nomination from a majority of those occupiers

If you can provide evidence of your claim such as those matters listed above at the time of submitting your enrolment claim it will allow for a more rapid assessment by the Shire.

To vote in the 21 October 2023 election you must have submitted your application to be enrolled to vote by 25 August 2023 at 5pm, when enrolment closes.

BUSINESS/BODY CORPORATE PROPERTY OWNERS

If your business/body corporate owns a property in the Shire of Merredin, you may be eligible to nominate up to two people, who are not already enrolled to vote, to vote on your businesses/body corporates behalf, provided they are enrolled to vote in a State or Federal election.

To nominate electors, complete all sections of Application to Nominate Electors on the Owners and Occupiers Roll Form, and send it to:

Shire of Merredin

PO Box 42

Merredin WA 6415

OR

admin@merredin.wa.gov.au

The Shire will consider your claim, determine whether you are eligible and inform you of the outcome of your application in writing. You may be asked during this process for information such as:

• Proof of your businesses/body corporates ownership and/or rateability of the property
• Proof of your nominees enrolment in a state or federal election
• Proof that your businesses/body corporates is registered with the relevant state or federal authority to give it legal standing as a body corporate
• If you own your property jointly with two or more people or businesses/body corporates, a nomination from a majority of those owners

If you can provide evidence of your claim such as those matters listed above at the time of submitting your enrolment claim it will allow for a more rapid assessment by the Shire.

To have your nominees vote in the 21 October 2023 election you must have submitted your application to nominate voters by 25 August 2023 at 5pm, when enrolment closes. 

BUSINESS/BODY CORPORATE PROPERTY OCCUPIERS

If your business/body corporate occupies a property in the Shire of Merredin, you may be eligible to nominate up to two people, who are not already enrolled to vote, to vote on your businesses/body corporates behalf, provided they are enrolled to vote in a State or Federal election.

To nominate electors, complete all sections of Application to Nominate Electors on the Owners and Occupiers Roll Form and provide a copy of your lease, tenancy agreement or other legal agreement giving a right of occupation for at least the next three months and send it to, and send it to:

Shire of Merredin

PO Box 42

Merredin WA 6415

OR

admin@merredin.wa.gov.au

The Shire will consider your claim, determine whether you are eligible and inform you of the outcome of your application in writing. You may be asked during this process for information such as:

• Proof of your businesses/body corporates right of occupation of the property for at least the three months such as your lease, tenancy agreement or other legal instrument;
• Proof that your lease, tenancy agreement or other legal instrument has the consent (or did not require the consent) of the owner of the property if your lease, tenancy agreement or other legal instrument is not with the owner;
• Proof the land you occupy is rateable;
• Proof of your nominees enrolment in a state or federal election;
• Proof that your businesses/body corporates is registered with the relevant state or federal authority to give it legal standing as a body corporate;
• If you own your property jointly with two or more people or businesses, a nomination from a majority of those owners;

If you can provide evidence of your claim such as those matters listed above at the time of submitting your enrolment claim it will allow for a more rapid assessment by the Shire.

To have your nominees vote in the 21 October 2023 election you must have submitted your application to nominate voters by 25 August 2023 at 5pm, when enrolment closes.

How do I check my enrolment up update my enrolment details?

RESIDENTS

Persons who are on the state electoral roll for an address within the Shire of Merredin are automatically enrolled to vote in a Shire of Merredin election.

You can update your state electoral enrolment through the Australian Electoral Commission website.

To vote in the 21 October 2023 election you must be enrolled to vote by 25 August 2023 at 5pm, when enrolment closes.

NON RESIDENT OWNERS AND OCCUPIERS

If you are already enrolled to vote you can contact the Shire at admin@merredin.wa.gov.au to check or update your enrolment details.

BUSINESS/BODY CORPORATE OWNERS AND OCCUPIERS

If you have nominees currently on the electoral roll you can email admin@merredin.wa.gov.au to check your nominees or update the contact details of your existing nominees.

To change your nominees, it is encouraged that existing nominees personally email admin@merredin.wa.gov.au to remove themselves from the roll so that new nominees may be considered immediately.

If your current nominees do not email personally then the Shire will advise them of your proposal to remove them and must, in accordance with section 4.35(2) of the Local Government Act 1995, give them 28 days to provide submissions to the Shire about why they should not be removed.

To ensure there is enough time to provide the 28 days’ notice and for the Shire to review a new application, please submit your request to remove current voters by Monday, 31 July 2023 at 5pm.

Alternatively a new application can be submitted if the existing nominees personally email admin@merredin.wa.gov.au to remove themselves from the roll.

How to Vote

The election will be conducted via postal voting. The Western Australian Electoral Commission (WAEC) has been appointed to run the election.

Electors will receive an election package containing one ballot paper to vote for Councillors, candidate profiles, a declaration envelope. The WAEC will commence the lodgement of election packages with Australia Post on 15 August 2023. The Shire of Merredin has opted for priority lodgement, meaning the election packages for the Shire of Merredin will have priority when being lodged with Australia Post.

To vote, complete the ballot papers, place them in the declaration envelope and then the pre-paid envelope and post the envelope in the mail. A ballot box will be on ground floor of the Shire of Merredin Administration Building, near the front desk, Monday to Friday 8:30am – 4:30pm and in the Council Chambers on Saturday, 21 October from 8am – 6pm to enable electors to return their ballot papers in person.

Please refer to the Australia Post website for the most up to date information on letter delivery times.

Key Dates

Friday, 25 August 2023 at 5pm – Close of applications to enrol to vote.

Saturday, 21 October 2023 – Election day.