2017 Local Government Ordinary Elections Election Report
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2017 Local Government Ordinary Elections Election Report March 2017 W ESTERN AUSTRALIAN Electoral Commission Election Report 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 ....................................... 22 Appendix 3 – 2017 Local Government Ordinary In Person Election Timeline ....................... 23 Appendix 4 – Returning Officers In 2017 ............................................................................... 24 Appendix 5 – Stakeholder Survey Key Findings ..................................................................... 26 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) ................................................... 125 Appendix 10 – Enrolment and Voter Participation for Local Governments Using the Postal Election Process in 2015 and 2017 ..................................................... 128 Appendix 11 – Comparative Statistics for Postal Elections 2013, 2015 and 2017 Ordinary Elections ......................................................................................... 131 Appendix 12 – Electors and Voter Participation by Age Group ............................................. 134 Appendix 13 – Electors and Voter Participation by Age and Gender .................................... 135 Appendix 14 – Late Mail ........................................................................................................ 136 Appendix 15 – Unclaimed Mail ............................................................................................. 138 2 Election Report FOREWORD In conducting local government elections the Commission is able to offer absolute I am pleased to report on the conduct of the impartiality and integrity, enabling local October 2017 local government elections. government administrative offices to remain Under the Local Government Act 1995, where at arm’s length from the electoral process. local governments choose to conduct their The Commission also brings to the table a elections by post those elections must be substantial level of electoral experience and conducted by the Western Australian Electoral expertise. This is reflected in the very high Commission. In the 2017 elections 85 of the level of satisfaction recorded in stakeholder State’s local governments fell into this category. feedback surveys. As with any electoral A further four councils which opted for in event, however, there is always room for person (attendance) elections, requested the improvement, and the Commission is not Commission to conduct the elections on their immune in this regard. One less pleasing behalf. aspect was the requirement to conduct a Taking into account the total number of fresh election for the City of Fremantle’s contested elections and the number of electors South Ward where, through an administrative eligible to vote in those elections, this was the error, a nomination was accepted from an largest local government electoral event for ineligible candidate. To ensure the integrity of which the Commission has been responsible the electoral process, the Commission took since its inception. There were also a record upon itself to refer this matter to the Court of number of candidates, 1,146 in all. Disputed Returns and undertook to conduct a fresh election at no cost to the City. The most pleasing aspect overall was the improvement in voter turnout, the State-wide The cost of conducting the 2017 elections average participation of 34.5% arresting a was $3.59 per elector, compared with $3.10 steady decline in participation at the previous in 2015. This increase was largely the result two elections. The highest overall participation of substantial increases in postal charges rate was 83.7% in the Shire of Mt Marshall, which were beyond the Commission’s control. with the City of Fremantle at 50.8% recording Looking ahead this points to a major challenge the highest rate among metropolitan councils. for the future delivery of local government Mayoral elections in particular attracted an elections. The proportion of the total costs of increase in voter turnout, most above 40%. postal ballots directly attributable to actual postal charges increased from 21.3% in 2015 It is also pleasing to report greater gender to 30.9% in 2017 and is likely to remain on an equality among candidates contesting these upwards spiral, matched by ever-increasing elections. In 2017 34.9% of candidates State- delivery times. This may well lead some local wide were women, compared with 30.8% in governments to reconsider whether postal 2015 and 29.7% in 2013. Western Australian Electoral Commission Be a vocal local 2017 Local Government Ordinary Elections 3 Election Report ballots remain the preferred option. The In concluding, I would like to acknowledge the Commission remains of the view that in most efforts of all returning officers and Commission cases postal ballots provide greater potential staff in the planning and conduct of the 2017 to maximise participation than attendance ordinary elections and thank each of the ballots and that they are also cheaper (the local governments for the assistance and average per elector cost of $3.59 for postal cooperation provided by their staff. elections was still much lower than $5.31 for the attendance-in-person elections run by the David Kerslake Commission). Nevertheless, it is acknowledged Electoral Commissioner that challenges lie ahead. Election Snapshot October 2013 October 2015 October 2017 Ordinary Elections Postal Postal Postal Local Government Districts 76 82 85 Enrolled electors 1,342,474 1,443,575 1,579,891 Referendums/Polls 2 1 2 Mayoral/Presidential Elections Vacancies 11 12 12 Elected unopposed 3 1 1 Contested vacancies 8 11 11 Candidates, contested 33 46 45 Councilor Elections Vacancies 389 406 421 Elected unopposed 94 59 44 Contested vacancies 289 347 377 Candidates, contested 747 964 1,021 Positions unfilled 6 2 0 Election Packages Dispatched 1,176,014 1,368,671 1,556,105 Returned at close of poll 326,529 375,990 536,688 Average 27.76% 27.50% 34.50% Comparative Statistics 2013, 2015 and 2017 Local Government Elections. Data Source: EMSWA 4 Election Report INTRODUCTION Local governments participating in postal elections in 2017 are listed at Appendix 1. This report provides a brief description of the All local governments located in the processesINTRODUCTION involved in conducting the 2017 metropolitanThe areaShires and of majorToodyay, regional Victoria locations Plains, Wiluna local government ordinary elections and and Wyndham-East Kimberely used postal Since 1995, the Commission has had an adopted postal voting. The City of Stirling includes a summary of the results. voting for the first time. The City of Stirling and increasing involvement in the conduct of localand the Shirethe Shireof Murray of Murray also conductedconducted a poll in The Localgovernment Government postal Electoral elections. Act 1995 referendumsconjunction in conjunction with their with postal their elections. postal (the Act) allows councils to conduct their own elections. electionsAny ascouncil attendance-in-person may conduct its own ballots, voting but in The Shires of Broome, Derby/West Kimberley,