The Shire of Toodyay’s most recent Ordinary Council Election was held on 21 October 2023 via postal voting. The Western Australian Electoral Commission (WAEC) conducted this postal election on the Shire’s behalf.
Voting in local government elections is not compulsory in Western Australia, but all local electors are strongly encouraged to vote.
The Shire of Toodyay ordinary local government election is being held on Saturday 18 October 2025.
The Shire has appointed the Western Australian Electoral Commission to conduct its elections by postal vote.
Information for Voters
Voting in local government elections is not compulsory in Western Australia, but all local electors are strongly encouraged to vote.
Postal voting election packages are sent out to all electors the week commencing 15 September 2025. To be included in the count, ballot papers must be filled in and sealed as per the included instructions and either a) received via post by the election date, or b) deposited in the ballot box at the Shire Administration Centre by 6pm on election day.
If you have not received a postal voting package in the period prior to any postal election, please come into the Shire Offices to obtain a replacement.
Postal voting enables electors to hand deliver their postal vote before election day. Locations for this will be advertised in the lead-up to the election. All ballot papers must be received by the Returning officer by 6pm on Election Day to be counted.
To find out more about local government elections, please contact WAEC.
Are you enrolled to vote?
Prior to any upcoming election you must confirm your enrolment details or enrol to vote before the relevant WAEC deadline.
Residents
All residents in a local government district who are enrolled on the State electoral roll are automatically enrolled on the corresponding local government roll by the WAEC.
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.
Visit the WAEC website to check your details or to enrol online.
Non-resident Owners and Occupiers including Body Corporates
A person who is enrolled to vote in a state or federal election outside the Shire of Toodyay but who owns or occupies a rateable property within the Shire of Toodyay may make a claim of eligibility for the opportunity to be enrolled to vote in the Shire’s local government election.
There are two types of claims of eligibility:
- A claim of ownership; or
- A claim of occupation.
An elector can make an enrolment eligibility claim using the forms below:
Form 2: Enrolment Eligibility Claim - Owner or Co-Owner
Form 2A: Enrolment Eligibility Claim - Occupier or Co-Occupier
Form 2B: Enrolment Eligibility Claim - Nomination by Group of Owners / Occupiers
Form 2C: Enrolment Eligibility Claim - Nomination by Body Corporate
Any claims must be lodged with the Chief Executive Officer at least 77 days before the relevant election date.
In 2025 the latest date for claims to be lodged is Friday 1 August 2025.
Are you considering nominating for Council?
Check your eligibility to nominate for Council here.
WALGA are holding a Candidate Information Webinar on Monday 18 August 2025 at 6.00pm. Further information is at the link below:
https://mailchi.mp/walga/2025-local-government-elections-candidate-information-webinar?e=9a0c285b09
The WA Local Government Association (WALGA) held a Candidate Information Briefing webinar in 2023 to inform and prepare prospective candidates. This can be viewed below.
For further details regarding eligibility and nomination procedures, please contact WAEC on 13 63 06.
Disclosure of Electoral Gifts
Candidates and donors of electoral gifts must disclose any gifts received, made or promised during the disclosure period. This period runs until the day of swearing-in for successful candidates, and three days after election day for unsuccessful candidates.
Electoral gifts must be disclosed either:
- Within three days of nomination (if the gift is received, made or promised before the nomination of the candidate); or
- Within three days of receipt, delivery or promise of the gift (once the candidate has been nominated)
An electoral gift is any gift for the purposes of the Local Government (Elections) Regulations 1997, where:
- The gift is linked to the candidate’s candidacy; and
- The value of the donation is $300 or more, or it is one of two or more gifts made by a person during the disclosure period and with a total value of $300 or more
Donors of electoral gifts are closely-associated persons as defined by the Regulations. Before accepting campaign gifts, candidates should consider how the acceptance may affect their ability to participate in future decision-making processes of Council.
Electoral gifts do not include the provision of volunteer labour, gifts in a will, or gifts by a relative (as defined by section 5.74(1) of the Act).
To disclose an electoral gift, please submit a Gift Disclosure Form (Electoral).
Electoral Gifts Register
Local Government Reforms
The State Government, in 2023, made changes to the Local Government Act 1995. These changes aim to ensure local governments can better serve residents and ratepayers.
The key reforms relevant to future Shire of Toodyay elections are:
- Optional preferential voting – bringing local government elections in line with State and Federal elections and restoring the right of voters to express preferences
- Changes to Council representation – Toodyay’s Council has been reduced from nine (9) Elected Members to seven (7), aligning the size of the Council with the size of the population
More information about these reforms is available here.