Council Elections

Electors will be voting for the following vacancies:

• Mayor (4 year term)
• Councillor (4 year term) – 4 vacancies

Once candidate nominations open on Thursday 28 August 2025, candidate profiles will be published on the Town’s website as they are received.

Voting is not compulsory for local government elections, however all electors are encouraged to vote.

The electoral roll used for the election is comprised of two parts; the residents roll and the non-residents owners and occupiers roll.

To vote in the 2025 election you must be enrolled to vote by 22 August 2025 at 5pm, when enrolment closes. 

RESIDENTS ROLL

All residents who are enrolled on the State electoral roll are automatically enrolled on the residents roll. No separate enrolment is necessary. 

If you are unsure of your enrolment status please click here to check your enrolment with the Western Australian Electoral Commission.

NON-RESIDENT OWNERS AND OCCUPIERS ROLL

The non-resident owners and occupiers roll is maintained by the Town.

The non-resident owners and occupiers roll is maintained by the Town.

People who own or occupy rateable property within the Town but are enrolled on the state electoral roll in another local government area, can apply to be included on the roll. A body corporate may apply to nominate up to two nominees for the roll.

For further information about the non-resident owners and occupiers roll, including how to enrol, please click here.

The Town holds postal elections conducted by the Western Australian Electoral Commission. If you are enrolled to vote you will receive an election package in the post approximately three weeks prior to the Election.

To vote, complete the ballot papers, place the ballot papers in the declaration envelope and sign the envelope. Then place the signed envelope in the pre-paid envelope and post the envelope in the mail.

Alternatively, election packages may be returned to the Town’s Administration Building between 8:30am – 5pm Monday to Friday and on election day from 8am – 6pm.

If you misplace or haven’t received your election package,  you may visit the Town’s Administration Building located at 308 Stirling Highway, Claremont to have your election package reissued. For your convenience a ballot box will be available to lodge your vote.

Local government elections are conducted by the Optional Preferential Voting (OPV) method.

OPV requires electors to record a first preference on their ballot papers by placing a ‘1’ in the box alongside the candidate that is their first preference. If an elector wishes to register additional preferences this can be done using consecutive numbers in the remaining boxes. You can provide a preference for one, some or all candidates.

Guidance material on OPV will be provided to electors with their election packages.

Due to Local Government Reforms, elections in the Town are no longer conducted across wards but across the district as a whole.

Nominations open on Thursday 28 August 2025 and close at 4pm on Thursday 4 September 2025.

To stand for election as a Council Member you must:

• Be 18 years of age or older;
• Be an Australian citizen or a British subject prior to 26 January 1984;
• Be an elector of the district;
• Have completed the mandatory Local Government Candidate Induction available on the Department of Local Government, Industry Regulation and Safety’s website; and
• Not be disqualified from nominating as a candidate

See https://www.elections.wa.gov.au/candidates-and-parties/local-government-candidates for further information.

An effective nomination consists of the following:

• A completed nomination form;
• A profile of the candidate of not more than 1,000 characters (including spaces);
• A nomination deposit of $100.00; and
• A photograph (optional).

It is recommended that candidates use the WAEC’s Nomination Builder to complete their nomination form and construct their candidate profile.

All nominations must be signed by the candidate in front of a witness and submitted to the Returning Officer during the nomination period.

Candidates are encouraged to make an appointment with the Returning Officer well before nominations close to discuss nominations. The Returning Officer will be available at the Town of Claremont Administration Building for appointments during the nomination period.

The Returning Officer for Local Government Elections is appointed by the Western Australian Electoral Commission. Once appointed, the Returning Officer's contact information will be made available to prospective candidates.

Candidates are required to adhere to the Town of Claremont Code of Conduct for Council Members, Committee Members and Candidates. 

Prospective candidates are encouraged to visit:

• the Department of Local Government, Industry Regulation and Safety’s website for detailed information on becoming a candidate and running an election campaign 
• the Western Australian Electoral Commission's website for information on making your nomination and required forms and the election process.

Candidates must not use the Town’s logo or Council crest in their campaign.

Part 5A of the Local Government (Elections) Regulations 1997 requires both candidates and donors to disclose information about any electoral related gift with a value of $300 or more that was given or promised during the disclosure period (being six months before election day).

For further information about gift disclosures please click here.

Council Policy LG549 Election Signage prescribes requirements for the placement of election signs on Town of Claremont property.

Private Property

Election signs placed on private property must:

• Have the consent of the owner/s.
• Be temporary in nature and be displayed only during the Election Period.
• Not be illuminated, move, flash, rotate or otherwise cause distraction to road users, within 50m of a signalised intersection.
• Not pose a health or safety risk.

Public Property

Election Signs posted, affixed or erected on property under the care, control or management of the Town for the purposes of candidate promotion during an election, must comply with the following: • Election Signs must be temporary in nature and be displayed only during the Election Period.

• Contain clear and legible writing or symbols.
• A candidate or candidate’s Authorised Person may place an individual sign/s to a minimum distance of 500m between each sign or pair of signs.
• Election Signs must be robustly made and securely placed, without posing a health or safety risk to people, vehicles, animals or property.
• Election Signs must be regularly maintained during the Election Period.

Election Signs must not be placed or affixed:

• On any park or reserve.
• On a carriageway, driving strip, traffic island, roundabout or within 50m of s signalised intersection or pedestrian activated crossing.
• On or adjacent to any municipal building.
• Within 10m of an intersection or junction, or any other location that may pose a health or safety risk or obstruction to motorist of pedestrians.
• On a verge adjacent any property without the consent of the owner/occupier.
• In a location on a pole or fence to aid the climbing of the fence or pole.
• To restrict the line of sight of other traffic signs and traffic devices.
• To any building, tree, pole or infrastructure including any street sigh, traffic direction sign, parking sign or other signs.
• So as to cause any damage to a fence, wall, tree or shrub.

Election Signs must not:

• Be more than 1.5m2 in area; be higher than 1.2m above the natural ground level; or have a maximum vertical or horizontal dimension greater than 1.2m. Note: a back-to-back sign facing in two directions may have the dimensions on both sides.
• Be illuminated, move, flash, rotate or otherwise cause distraction to road users, within 50m of a signalised intersection.
• Be constructed of materials or installed in a manner that may have an adverse effect on the health, safety or convenience of a person, traffic or land.
• Be self-adhesive.
• Advertise any organisation or person other than a registered candidate or registered political party.