Local Government Elections

Local governments make many decisions that affect your community and it is vital that your views are taken into consideration. By voting at local elections, you can contribute to effective local government. If you don't vote, you have no say in determining the person who represents you when making decisions in areas like local planning and development, recreation space and the upkeep of your community.

The next Local Government Election will be held on Saturday, 19 October 2019

Interest in Becoming a Councillor?

Visit our Becoming a Councillor page.

2019 Local Government Election Timeline

Register for a Free Webinar for Prospective Elected Members (WALGA) to be held on 15 August 2019 this link will take you to the WALGA website

Council Member Training and Candidate Induction (mandatory requirement) this link will take you to the Department of Local Government's website

Candidate Information Session (Denmark) - Tuesday, 3 September 2019 at 5.30pm.  Reception Room, 953 South Coast Highway, Denmark

Ward Areas

The Shire of Denmark has a three ward structure for Elected Member representation.  They are Town Ward, Scotsdale/Shadforth Ward and Kent/Nornalup Ward.  To download maps of the ward areas, click on the links below.

Town Ward

Scotsdale/Shadforth Ward

Kent/Nornalup Ward

Overall map - showing all three wards 

Voting Method

The Shire of Denmark runs each election by postal vote. All postal elections are managed by the WA Electoral Commission (WAEC) who appoint a Returning Officer for each election.

Enrolling to Vote

More Information

For more information on local government elections, please contact the Department of Local Government (DLG) or the Western Australian Electoral Commission (WAEC) by clicking on the one of the links below:

Department of Local Government & Communities

Western Australian Electoral Commission (WAEC)

Enrolling to Vote

Residents

You are automatically enrolled to vote if you are on the State Electoral Roll for the Shire of Denmark. 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 which are available from the Local Government Office, all post offices, all Australian Electoral Commission Offices or the Western Australian Electoral Commission.

Checking Your Enrolment

Persons wishing to check whether they are enrolled on the State Roll for the Shire of Denmark already can do so by visiting the WA Electoral Commission website.

Persons wishing to check whether they are on the Council's Owners/Occupiers Roll or to obtain an Application Form can telephone the Shire's Customer Service Officers on (08) 9848 0300.

Please note that you will only be recorded on one of the above Rolls, not both.

Owners And Occupiers

If you own property in the Shire of Denmark but do not live here or you operate a business, you may be eligible for listing on the owner/occupier roll.To be eligible for the Shire's owner/occupier roll, a person must be enrolled on the State Electoral Roll where they live, and either own or have a right of continuous occupation under a lease tenancy agreement or other legal instrument of a property within the Shire of Denmark. The right of continuous occupation must extend for a period of at least three months.

Where two or more individuals jointly own or occupy a property, up to two of them may enrol, with the written agreement of a majority of the owners where there are three or more co-owners or occupiers.

Where a company or body corporate owns or occupies rateable land, up to two people can be enrolled to vote on its behalf. If the same company or body corporate owns more than one property in a ward, the body is still only entitled to have two nominated persons on the roll.

Occupiers and occupier nominees remain on the roll for a period of two elections after their enrolment is accepted and are then taken off the roll six months after the second election. They must then re-enrol if they wish to continue as electors. Owners of rateable property remain on the roll until the relevant property passes ownership.

Enrolment Forms

Form 2 - Enrolment eligibility claim form: Fill in this form if you own or occupy rateable property in a district or ward, but are not represented on the residents roll (Western Australian Electoral Commission Roll) for that district or ward and want to be able to vote at local government elections for that district.

Form 2A - Application to register a nominee for a body corporate: Fill in this form if the body corporate: owns or occupies rateable property in a district or ward, but are not represented on the residents roll (Western Australian Electoral Commission Roll) for that district or ward and wants to be able to vote at local government elections for that district.

Form 2B - Application to register a nominee for co-owners or occupiers: Fill in this form if the persons: own or occupy rateable property in a district or ward, but are not represented on the residents roll (Western Australian Electoral Commission Roll) for that district or ward. Note: If a proposed nominee is on the residents roll (Western Australian Electoral Commission Roll) for the district or ward, they are automatically enrolled to vote.