2026 September Local Government Extraordinary Elections

Local Government Extraordinary Elections will take place on Thursday 24 September for the Local Governments below:

  • Shire of Cue
  • Shire of Dowerin
  • City of Mandurah - Town Ward
  • Shire of Manjimup - Rural Ward
  • Shire of Merredin
  • Shire of Northam - East Ward
  • Shire of Northampton
  • City of Rockingham - Rockingham-Safety Bay Ward
  • City of South Perth - Como and Moresby Ward
  • Shire of Upper Gascoyne

Local Government Extraordinary Elections in Western Australia are elections held outside the normal two-year cycle to fill a vacancy that occurs mid-term. This happens when a councillor, mayor, or president passes away, resigns, or is disqualified during their term. The person elected in an extraordinary election serves for the remainder of the original term, not a full four-year term.  

Key dates  

Enrolment: You must check, update or enrol to vote by: 5pm Wednesday 29 July

Nominations open: Tuesday 4 August

Nominations close: 4pm Tuesday 11 August 

Quick links 

Information for candidates 

Electoral Offences and complaints - click here for information about authorisation of electoral material, ballot paper handling and more

Local Government Stakeholder Resources

How to vote

Optional preferential voting is the voting system used in Local government elections. This means you have the choice to number the candidates in the order of your preference. You do not have to number all the boxes if you don’t want to.

You have the choice to:

vote for one candidate - by putting a 1 next to their name 
vote for some candidates - by numbering several candidates in the order of your preference 
vote for all candidates - in the order of your preference  
 

Who can vote

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. You must make sure you are correctly enrolled, and your details are up to date by the enrolment deadline.

Owners and Occupiers 
People who own or occupy rateable property within a local government district, can apply to their local government to be included on the roll as an owner/occupier, as long as they are eligible electors.