Ordinary Local Government Elections

Local Government elections are held every two years to elect half the compliment of Councillors who represent the local community. The next ordinary Local Government election will be held Saturday 20 October 2007.

The City of Gosnells holds Postal Elections, which are conducted by the Western Australian Electoral Commission.

Membership of the City of Gosnells Council
The membership of the Council of the City of Gosnells is made up of 12 Councillors who each serve a four year term. Every two years the term of six Councillors expires and an election is held so that a new Council can be formed.

There are four main stages of electing a new Council –
Nominations from people wanting to become Councillors on the Council (candidates)
Campaigning by the candidates
Voting by electors (local community members)
Vote counting to determine which candidates will become Councillors (elected members)
At a Special Council Meeting following the election the newly formed Council will elect a Mayor and Deputy Mayor.

Role of Mayor
The Mayor provides leadership and guidance to the community, presides at Council meetings, and represents the Council on formal occasions as well as representing the interests of electors, ratepayers and residents of the district.

Role of Councillors
Elected Councillors represent the interests of electors, ratepayers and residents of the district, provide leadership and guidance, and facilitate communication between the community and the Council as well as participating in the local government’s decision making processes at Council and Committee meetings.

VOTING ELIGIBILITY - ELECTORS
The Local Government Act determines how the Council is elected. Generally speaking, the people who live in, or own property in the local government area can choose who they want to have on the local Council by voting in Council elections. People with a right to vote at a local government election are known as "electors".

You are eligible to be enrolled to vote at Local Government elections if you reside in or are an owner or occupier of rateable property in the district of the City of Gosnells.

Residents
You are automatically enrolled to vote if you were on the State electoral roll.

Owners and Occupiers / Joint Owners and Occupiers / Corporations
People who did not appear on the State electoral roll but own or occupy property within the district of the City of Gosnells who successfully completed an enrolment eligibility claim form and are included on the City’s Owners and Occupiers Roll will be enrolled to vote. To be eligible persons must have met the prescribed eligibility requirements including being enrolled as an elector on a State or Federal roll. A body corporate could also nominate eligible individuals to be included on the Owners and Occupiers roll.

WARDS
The City of Gosnells is divided into three Wards each having four Councillor representatives. The three Wards are as follows:

Canning Vale
Thornlie and Canning Vale

Bickley
Beckenham, Kenwick, Langford, Maddington, Martin and Orange Grove

Gosnells
Gosnells, Huntingdale and Southern River

COUNCILLORS WHOSE TERM WILL EXPIRE IN OCTOBER 2007
The City is divided into three Wards, each having four representatives and as such every two years the term of six Councillors expires resulting in two 4-year term vacancies in each Ward.

The following Councillors terms will expire in October 2007:

Bickley Two 4-year term vacancies
Cr R (Ron) Mitchell
Cr P (Pauline) Wainwright

Canning Vale Two 4-year term vacancies
Vacant
Cr W (Wayne) Barrett

Gosnells Two 4-year term vacancies
Vacant
Cr MC (Carol) Matison OAM

POSTAL VOTING
Prior to the 20 October 2007 Postal Election the Electoral Commissioner will send out an election package to all electors (eligible voters) of the City. The package will consist of:

Profiles of each of the Ward candidates
Ballot paper
A ballot envelope, with an elector’s certificate attached
A postage pre-paid envelope addressed to the Returning Officer
An instruction envelope
All electors are encouraged to vote and then post their completed ballot paper and elector certificate to the Western Australian Electoral Commission or deliver to the City of Gosnells Administration Office (polling place) by no later than 6pm on Election Day. The votes will be counted on polling day (20 October 2007).

as posted on COGSite