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2019 Local Government Ordinary Elections Election Report
July 2020
W ESTERN AUSTRALIAN Electoral Commission Contents | Previous | Next
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
Foreword...... 3 Introduction...... 5 Returning Officers and Staff...... 6 Advertising...... 6 Electoral Rolls...... 7 Nominations...... 7 Complaints...... 7 Stakeholder Feedback Surveys...... 7 Processing Election Packages...... 8 Results...... 10 Participation...... 12 Mail...... 18 Costs...... 18 Future Directions...... 19 Appendix 1 – Enrolment and Voter Participation...... 20 Appendix 2 – 2017 Local Government Ordinary Election Timeline...... 24 Appendix 3 – 2017 Local Government Ordinary In Person Election Timeline...... 25 Appendix 4 – Returning Officers In 2017...... 26 Appendix 5 – Stakeholder Survey Key Findings...... 27 Appendix 6 – Replacement and Provisional Votes Issued...... 30 Appendix 7 – Reasons for Rejection of Voter Packages...... 32 Appendix 8 – Election Results (Postal Elections)...... 34 Appendix 9 – Election Results (Voting In Person Elections)...... 123 Appendix 10 – Referendum Results...... 126 Appendix 11 – Comparative Statistics for Postal Elections 2013, 2015 and 2017 Ordinary Elections...... 127 Appendix 12 – Electors and Voter Participation by Age Group...... 131 Appendix 13 – Electors and Voter Participation by Age and Gender...... 132 Appendix 14 – Late Mail...... 133 Appendix 15 – Unclaimed Mail...... 136
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FOREWORD In conducting local government elections the Commission is able to offer absolute Under the Local Government Act 1995, where impartiality and integrity, enabling local local governments choose to conduct their government administrative offices to remain at elections by post, those elections must be arm’s length from the electoral process. conducted by the Western Australian Electoral The Commission also brings a substantial level Commission. In the 2019 elections 86 of the of electoral experience and expertise. This is State’s local governments fell into this category. reflected in the very high level of satisfaction A further four councils which opted for in recorded in stakeholder feedback surveys. person (attendance) elections, requested the The proportion of the total costs of postal Commission to conduct the elections on their ballots directly attributable to actual postal behalf. charges remains around 30%. This cost Taking into account the total number of matched by decreasing delivery standards contested elections and the number of electors may well lead some local governments to eligible to vote in those elections, this was the reconsider whether postal ballots remain the largest local government electoral event for preferred option. which the Commission has been responsible The Commission remains of the view that in since its inception. most cases postal or other non-attendance It was disappointing however that there was ballots provide greater potential to maximise a drop in voter turnout, with the State-wide participation rather than attendance ballots, average participation of 29.1% decreasing especially in the larger metropolitan local from the increased rate of 34.5% achieved in governments. 2017. The highest overall participation rate From the Commission’s perspective while late in the 2019 elections was 73.7% in the Shire mail represents a low percentage relative to of Victoria Plains, with the Town of Cottesloe the total volume of packages distributed, the at 46.5% recording the highest rate among figure is disappointing and reflects the view metropolitan councils. that the current period available for package It is also pleasing to report a further production, distribution and return following improvement in gender equality among the close of nominations is too short given the candidates contesting these elections. In 2019 volumes that are now required to be produced 35.64% of candidates State-wide were women, and posted. This has been exacerbated by the compared with 34.9% in 2017, 30.8% in 2015 relative decline in the frequency and certainty and 29.7% in 2013. of postal services (particularly in some country areas).
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Election Report The Commission has previously raised this In concluding, I would like to acknowledge the concern with the Department of Local efforts of all returning officers and Commission
Government, Sport and Cultural Industries staff in the planning and conduct of the The Commission has previously In concluding, I would like to acknowledge the and more recently at the Review into the Local 2019 ordinary elections and thank each of raised this concern with the efforts of all returning officers and Commission Government Act, and is hopeful the issue will the local governments for the assistance and Department of Local Government, staff in the planning and conduct of the 2019 be addressed by any new legislative reforms. cooperation provided by their staff. Sport and Cultural Industries and ordinary elections and thank each of the more recently at the Review into the local governments for the assistance and Local Government Act, and is Robertcooperation Kennedy provided by their staff. hopeful the issue will be addressed Electoral Commissioner by any new legislative reforms. Robert Kennedy Electoral Commissioner
Election Snapshot Snapshot
October 2013 October 2015 October 2017 October 2019 Ordinary Elections Postal Postal Postal Postal Local Government Districts 76 82 85 86 Enrolled electors 1,342,474 1,443,575 1,579,891 1,619,431 Referendums/Polls 2 1 2 1 Mayoral/Presidential Elections Vacancies 11 12 12 13 Elected unopposed 3 1 1 2 Contested vacancies 8 11 11 12 Candidates, contested 33 46 45 43
Councillor Elections Vacancies 389 406 421 432 Elected unopposed 94 59 44 63 Contested vacancies 289 347 377 366 Candidates, contested 747 964 1,021 921 Positions unfilled 6 2 0 2 Election Packages Dispatched 1,176,014 1,368,671 1,556,105 1,532,308 Returned at close of poll 326,529 375,990 536,688 445,494
Average 27.76% 27.50% 34.50% 29.07%
CoComparativemparative StatisticsStatistics 2013, 2013, 2015, 2015 2017 and and 2017 2019 Local Local Government Government Elections. Elections.Data Source: Data EMSWA Source: EMSWA
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INTRODUCTION Local governments participating in postal INTRODUCTION electionsLocal ingovernments 2019 are listed participating at Appendix in 1. postal This report provides a brief description of the All localelections governments in 2019 locatedare listed in theat Appendix 1. This report provides a brief description of the processes involved in conducting the 2019 metropolitan area and major regional locations processes involved in conducting the 2019 All local governments located in the local government ordinary elections and adopted postal voting. The Town of Victoria local government ordinary elections and metropolitan area and major regional includes a summary of the results. Park also conducted a referendum in includes a summary of the results. locations adopted postal voting. The Town of The Local Government Electoral Act 1995 conjunction with their postal elections. The Local Government Electoral Act 1995 Victoria Park also conducted a referendum in (the Act) allows councils to conduct their own Four local governments which opted for (the Act) allows councils to conduct their own conjunction with their postal elections. elections as attendance-in-person ballots, but attendance-in-person elections ‒ the Shires elections as attendance-in-person ballots, but only the Electoral Commissioner may conduct of Broome,Four local Derby governments/West Kimberley, which opted for only the Electoral Commissioner may conduct a postal voting election. Hallsattendance-in-person Creek, and Menzies ‒ electionsrequested ‒ the the Shires a postal voting election. The Commission’s involvement in postal Electoralof Broome, Commissioner Derby/West to conduct Kimberley, those Halls electionsThe Commission’s has increased involvement at successive in local postal elections.Creek, and Menzies ‒ requested the Electoral elections has increased at successive local Commissioner to conduct those elections. government elections, conducting a record A timetable for the 2019 elections can been government elections, conducting a record number of 86 postal elections in 2019, with seenA at timetable Appendices for 2the and 2019 3. elections can been overnumber 96% of theof 86 State’s postal eligible elections electors in 2019, having with seen at Appendices 2 and 3. accessover to 96%the postalof the votingState’s method. eligible electors having Key Events access to the postal voting method. ConductingKey Events large numbers of simultaneous
Election Local governments postalConducting elections demandslarge numbers a high ofdegree simultaneous Year using Postal Voting of planningpostal elections and scheduling demands to meet a high the degree 1997 8 requirementsof planning of and the schedulingelection process. to meet Some the of 1999 34 the keyrequirements election activities of the election for the Commission process. Some of 2001 47 include:the key election activities for the Commission 2003 55 include:close of the electoral rolls 2005 50 2007 64 opening close and of theclose electoral of nominations rolls 2009 69 printing opening and dispatchand close of of postal nominations voting 2011 74 election printing packages and dispatch of postal voting 2013 76 election packages 2015 82 receipt and checking of postal voting 2017 85 election receipt packages and checking of postal voting 2019 86 conductingelection numerous packages counts and Local governments using postal voting. declaring conducting results. the count and declaring LocalData governments Source: EMSWA using postal voting. results. Data Source: EMSWA
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RETURNING OFFICERS ADVERTISING AND STAFF The Act provides for the placement of Recruitment of returning officers commenced statutory advertisements in a newspaper with in early 2019, with the aim of appointing State-wide circulation. The Commission placed people who lived locally and were known to all statutory advertising in The West Australian their communities where possible. newspaper. Notices were also placed in local The names of all Commission employed libraries and at local government offices. returning officers are listed at Appendix 4. Most of the local governments placed advertisements in local community newspapers or newsletters and on their website. People visiting the Commission’s website site could access a broad range of electoral information, including: key dates and deadlines for the election how-to-vote information previous postal voting election results lists of candidates (after close of nominations) profiles and photographs of the candidates Returning officer training as supplied by the candidates Election processes can be very labour returning officer contact details intensive. A large number of casual staff were Australia Post daily package return figures employed at the postal vote checking centre and checking election results in Perth. Others were employed to assist with various processes up to and including the final election results. counting of votes on election day. Local government authorities typically made their staff available for the issue of replacement and provisional voting papers during the lead up to election day. In addition, one or more staff from most local governments worked at the polling place on election day and/or were employed to count ballot papers after 6.00 pm.
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ELECTORAL ROLLS COMPLAINTS When the rolls closed on 30 August 2019, The Commission’s head office dealt with there were 1,655,839 electors on the numerous enquiries on a number of matters State residents roll. Each local government relating to the local government elections. Chief Executive Officer was responsible for Of these, 304 queries and complaints were producing an owners and occupiers roll for registered by the Commission and were mainly their district. Nominating candidates were able of a technical nature. These were typically to obtain a copy of the roll as provided by the addressed by explaining the legislative Act, along with other candidate information. requirements to the complainants. NOMINATIONS Invalidity Complaints A total of 991 candidates nominated across Any person who wishes to challenge the the 86 postal elections and 38 for the four outcome of an election may do so by lodging voting in person elections conducted by the an invalidity complaint with a Court of Commission. Disputed Returns within 28 days of the result Unfortunately, many candidates continue to being declared. delay their nomination until the final day of No invalidity complaints were lodged in nominations. This creates some challenges relation to the outcome of the 2019 local for returning officers and can delay the ballot government elections. paper draw. STAKEHOLDER FEEDBACK Gender of Candidates SURVEYS In 2019, 643 males and 347 females (35%), and one unrecorded gender, nominated for Surveys were conducted by the Commission vacancies in local government postal elections. seeking feedback on particular aspects of This compares with 714 males and 383 the local government elections from local females in 2017. government Chief Executive Officers, Returning Officers and candidates. A summary of the key In 2019, 251 males and 175 females (41%) findings from these surveys can be found in were elected in postal elections, compared Appendix 5. 261 males and 167 females (39%) in 2017. Age of Candidates The ages of candidates ranged from 18 to 85 years, with an average of 54, slightly higher than the average age of 52 in 2017. Unopposed & Uncontested Elections In the postal elections 64 candidates were elected unopposed; with one vacancy uncontested in the attendance-in-person elections.
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PROCESSINGPROCESSING ELECTIONELECTION PostalPostal Vote Vote Operation Operation Centre Centre PACKAGESPACKAGES TheThe Commission’s Commission’s centre centre for forpostal postal vote vote operations was located at the Perth Election Package Dispatch operations was located at the Perth Processing Election Package Dispatch ProcessingCentre, Centre,168 St Georges 168 St Georges Terrace, Terrace, Perth. Casual ThereThere were were 1,532, 1,532,308308 election election packages packages Perth.staff Casual members staff memberswere employed were employed in teams to in dispatcheddispatched to electors to electors in 75 in Local75 Local Government Government teamsprocess to process ballot ballotpaper paperenvelopes envelopes returned by districtsdistricts (including (including three three wards wards where where there there returnedvoters. by voters. was a presidential election only). was a presidential election only). MailMail was was delivered delivered to the to theProcessing Processing Centre Centre by ElectorsElectors typically typically had had around around two two and and a half a half Australiaby Australia Post on Post a daily on a basis daily from basis 1 from October weeks to return their ballot material; over 2019. weeks to return their600000 ballot material; over 1 October 2019. threethree we eksweeks in many in many country country and and remote remote Approximately 38.9% of the total number of locations. Electors who misplaced500000 their ballot Approximately 38.9% of the total number of locations. Electors who misplaced their ballot packagespackages that that were were returned returned was was received received at at material could arrange for400000 cancellation and material could arrange for cancellation and re- the thepostal postal vote vote operations operations centre centre by the by endthe ofend of re-issueissue through through their their local local300000 council. council. the thefirst first five businessfive business days. Thisdays. comparesThis comparesDaily with Returns with StatisticsStatistics on the on number the number200000 of replacement of replacement and and 45%45% of packages of packages returned returned in 201 in 2017.7. The The timingTotal timing Returns provisionalprovisional votes votes issued issued 100000in each in each district district are are of schoolof school holidays holidays and and the theQueen’s Queen’s Birthday Birthday providprovideded at Appendix at Appendix 6. 6. publicpublic holiday holiday clearly clearly has hasan impactan impact on returnon return 0 rates at postal elections. Oct Oct Oct Oct Oct Oct Oct Oct Oct Oct Oct Oct Oct Oct Almost 52% of replacement voting papers rates at postal elections. Oct ‐ ‐ ‐ ‐ ‐ ‐ ‐ ‐ ‐ ‐ ‐ ‐ ‐ ‐ Almost 52% of replacement voting papers ‐ 3 4 5 6 9 10 11 12 13 16 17 18 19 20 werewere issued issued on electionon election day, day,probably probably because because TheThe following following graph, graph, illustrates illustrates the the 21 trend trend for for electorselectors expected expected to be to ablebe able to attend to attend a a the thereturn return of packages. of packages. pollingpolling place place as they as they do indo the in theState State or Federal or Federal elections.elections. For Forin person in person elections, elections, an elector an elector wishing wishing to to castcast an absentan absent vote vote could could do sodo atso any at any local local governmentgovernment throughout throughout the theState. State. 120,000 100.00%
AustraliaAustralia Post Post Receipts Receipts 100,000 80.00% 80,000 Australia Post receipts 70,000 100.0% 60.00% 60,000 60,000 80.0% 50,000 40.00% 40,00040,000 60.0% 30,000 No of packages 40.0% 20.00% 20,00020,000 20.0% 10,000 0 0.00% 0 0.0% 14131211109876543210 14 13 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 0 % of packages received No of business days to election Daily receipts %Daily of Receiptspackages
Postal Vote Package Receipts from Australia Post. Data Source: EMSWA Postal Vote Package Receipts from Australia Post. Data Source: EMSWA
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Where an election he e packages an ele tion was rejected pa ages (for as e e te packages o by local pa agesgovernment b lo aldistrict gove nment and the ist i t an the example, unsigned)e ample the reason nsigne was recorded. the eason asreasons e o e for rejection. easons o e e tion Appendix 7 shows ppen i the number sho s of rejected the n mbe o e e te
Total Number of Rejected Packages: 2015, 2017 and 2019 Total Number of Rejected Packages: 2015, 2017 and 2019