Local government elections
The City of Fremantle is divided into six wards or electoral districts. Two councillors represent each ward, with the mayor representing the combined electorate.
The mayor is elected by the electorate of the local government area. Ordinary elections are currently held on the third Saturday in October, and mayoral elections are held every four years.
Candidates
A strong councillor role is an important element in a successful local government system, ensuring that councils act in the community interest.
A person is qualified to be elected as a member of a council if the person:
a) is of or over the age of 18 years;
b) is an elector of the district; and
c) is not disqualified from being elected as a member under the Act.
Who can vote?
If you live in or are an owner/occupier of rateable property within the Fremantle municipality and you meet the voter eligibility criteria, you are entitled to be enrolled to vote in local government elections.
Residents
If you are on the state electoral roll as a resident of that address, you are enrolled to vote. If you are not already on the state electoral roll and meet the eligibility criteria, a claim for enrolment should be made to any divisional returning officer of the Western Australian Electoral Commission.
Owners and occupiers
If you are a non-resident owner or occupier of rateable property in the Fremantle municipality, you are also eligible to be enrolled to vote in local government elections, provided that you are on a State or Commonwealth electoral roll. However, it is essential that you lodge an enrolment form.
If you are not on the State or Commonwealth electoral roll, an enrolment claim can still be accepted provided that you were on the last owner and occupiers roll for that electoral, and have continued to own or occupy rateable property in the electoral continuously since that roll was prepared.
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 3 months following the date of 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 on the State or Commonwealth electoral rolls, to enrol as owner/occupier electors.
Corporations
A body corporate which owns or occupies rateable property may nominate two persons who are on either on the State or Commonwealth electoral rolls, to enrol as owner/occupier electors.
How to enrol
There is no longer automatic enrolment of property owner/occupiers. It is now necessary to complete an enrolment eligibility claim form.It is not possible for any person to exercise more than one vote in a local government election or to be recorded more than once on the same roll.
Contact our service and information team on 08 9432 9999.
Where to vote
Polling places will be advertised in the West Australian and local newspapers prior to each election. Contact our customer service centre on 08 9432 9999.