Local Government Ordinary Elections are held on the third Saturday in October every two years. The next Local Government Election is scheduled for Saturday 21 October 2023.
The municipality of the City of Canning consists of a directly elected Mayor and 10 Councillors. The following positions will be contested at the 2023 elections:
- Mayor: 1 vacant position (term to expire on 16 October 2027)
- Bannister Ward: 1 vacant position (term to expire on 16 October 2027)
- Beeliar Ward: 1 vacant position (term to expire on 16 October 2027)
- Beeloo Ward: 1 vacant position (term to expire on 16 October 2027)
- Beeloo Ward: 1 vacant position (term to expire on 18 October 2025)
- Mason Ward: 1 vacant position (term to expire on 16 October 2027)
- Nicholson Ward: 1 vacant position (term to expire on 16 October 2027)
Key dates
| 25 August 2023 |
Rolls close at 5pm. |
| 29 August 2023 |
Candidate Information Session held by the City. |
| 31 August 2023 |
Nominations for Council open. |
| 7 September 2023 |
Nomination period closes at 4pm. |
| 21 October 2023 |
Election day. Polls close 6pm. |
| By 23 October 2023 |
Election results declared and published. |
Further information
Enrolling to vote
You must be enrolled in order to vote in the Local Government Election, and this must be done before rolls close at 5pm on 25 August 2023.
Check your enrolment status or enrol to vote on the Electoral Commission website.
Candidate Information Session
Representing your community as an Elected Member can be satisfying and rewarding. A Candidate Information Session was held on Tuesday 29 August 2023 from 5.30pm – 7.30pm at the City's Administration Building. A recording of the session can be watched online. The session provides information about the election process, the role and responsibilities of elected members and much more.
Nominate for Council
Nominations to run for Council are open from 31 August – 7 September 2023.
To stand for election as a councillor, 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, Sport and Cultural Industries (DLGSC) website.
The DLGSC website also has some great information on the nomination process. We recommend checking it out.
Make your vote count
You will receive your voting pack from the WA Electoral Commission around 2-3 weeks before the election. This will typically include a list of candidates, ballot papers, instructions on how to vote, a declaration, and an envelope. Read through the instructions, make your vote, seal the envelope, and post it in the mail. You won't need a stamp and postage will be free.
All postal votes must be posted by October 17 at 4pm, but the earlier the better. You can also cast your vote in person up until 6pm on election day at the City's Administration Building, 1317 Albany Highway, Cannington.
The 2023 elections will see a change in voting from first past the post to optional preferential voting. Watch a short video explaining Optional Preferential Voting.
The City provides guidance for the placement of election signage. Please note election signage cannot be placed on private property before 15 September and on public property prior to 23 September.