For every election the Commission conducts we appoint a Returning Officer to run the election for us in the District.   

    The Returning Officer for this By-election is Brian Robartson. His contact details are as follows:

• Email: ro_northwestcentral@elections.wa.gov.au

• Mobile: 0458 808 031

    How to make a complaint or provide feedback

    Complaints related to an election should be directed to the Returning Officer in the first instance.

    If you'd prefer to lodge your complaint or feedback with the complaints team at the Commission, there are two ways you can do this:

• Send us an email at feedback@waec.wa.gov.au; or

• Complete this form and return to the Commission by email.

  Supporting evidence should be submitted where possible, as this will assist us to resolve the issue for you.

  For example, a complaint regarding incorrect  authorisation of electoral advertising should be accompanied with photo evidence.   

  This is why we prefer to receive feedback and complaints in writing rather than over the telephone.

  Timeframes

  Once a complaint is received by the Complaints team, an acknowledgement email will be sent by the next business day.

  Where complaints are complex,  investigation and/or further assessment may be required.

  The complaints team will advise you of the expected timeframe where this arises.

  What are the some of the rules about Elections?

  We've created a document which outlines some of the important rules around election material, campaigning and postal voting.

  You can find it here.

   For a list of Frequently Asked Questions, see here. 

   For Frequently Asked Questions on the rules of an election, see here.

To see a full list of the candidates for the North West Central By-election, see here. 

Yes, voting is compulsory for all electors enrolled in the North West Central District. There are fines for not voting. For more information about this, please see Failure to Vote.

You can apply for a postal vote online here. You can access the application form (PDF) here.

The below locations and times are now confirmed for early voting in person from Wednesday, August 31 until Friday, September 16. 

The below locations and times are now confirmed for interstate early voting in person from Wednesday, August 31 until Friday, September 16. 

 These are the locations where you can cast your vote on polling day (17 September 2022) within the North West Central District:

 All locations below are open from 8am until 6pm on the day. 

• Carnarvon - Carnarvon Woolshed, 21 Robinson Street

• Coral Bay - Coral Bay Learning Centre, Banksia Drive

• Cue - Cue Primary School, Simpson Street

• Denham - Shark Bay School, 55 Francis Road 

• East Carnarvon - Carnarvon Community College (Marmion Street Campus), 27 Marmion Street

• Exmouth - Exmouth Shire Hall, 22 Maidstone Crescent

• Kalbarri - Kalbarri District High School, Hackney Street

• Meekatharra - Meekatharra Shire Hall, Main Street

• Mount Magnet - Mount Magnet District High School, Laurie Street

• Onslow - Onslow Primary School, Simpson Street

• Pannawonica - Pannawonica Primary School, Sports Way

• Paraburdoo - Paraburdoo Primary School, De Grey Road

• Tom Price - Tom Price Recreation Centre, Milpera Street

• Wiluna - Wiluna Remote Community School, Scotia Street

• Yalgoo - Core Stadium Recreation Centre, Mitchell Street

 Mobile Polling

 Mobile polling will be available at the Mount Magnet Race Club from 11.30am until 5.30pm. 

From 31 August 2022 - 16 September 2022, a team will be visiting the communities below to collect votes. 

• Blackstone (Papulankutja) Community - Thursday 8 September: 10am - 4pm (CST time)

• Burringurrah Community Aboriginal Community -  Wednesday 14 September: 8.45am - 4pm 

• Gascoyne Junction Remote Community School - Thursday 15 September: 8am - 4pm 

• Jameson (Mantamauru) Community - Friday 9 September: 9.30am - 4pm

• Mount Magnet Race Club - Saturday 17 September: 11.30am - 5.30pm 

• Pia Wadjari Remote Community School - Thursday 8 September: 10.30am - 4pm

• Tjirrkarli Community - Tuesday 6 September: 11.15am - 12.15pm 

• Tjukurla Community - Saturday 10 September: 10am - 4pm (CST time) 

• Wakathuni Community - Tuesday 13 September: 11am - 3pm

• Wanarn Community - Tuesday 13 September: 9.30am - 4pm

• Warakurna Community - Monday 12 September: 10am - 4pm (CST time) 

• Warburton Community - Tuesday 6 September: 2pm - 4pm & Sunday 11 September: 8am - 4pm

• Wingellina (Irrunytju) Community - Wednesday 7 September: 10am - 4pm (CST time) 

  The Commission can assist voters in several ways:

• Telephone Assisted Voting

• Translated Materials

• Other assistance at Polling Places 

   Telephone Assisted Voting

   Telephone Assisted Voting allows eligible electors to vote over the telephone.

   This service is for electors who cannot vote without assistance because of  literacy skills, a sight impairment, or another incapacity. 

   Through using two separate call centres (one for applying to vote using the system and one for vote casting) the elector can vote verbally and anonymously. 

   The WAEC has established a specific call line for Telephone Assisted Voting on 136 800, or for international callers: +61 8 9214 7290.

   Telephone Assisted Voting will be open from August 31, 2022 until September 17, 2022. 

    Hours: Monday to Friday: 8am - 6pm

                 Saturday 17 September: 8am - 6pm

   Translated materials

    At each Polling Place, materials will be available on how to vote in 30 different languages, including the following local Aboriginal languages:

• Martu Wangka;

• Ngaanyatjarra;

• Wangkatja

     A multilingual guide for completing a ballot paper will also soon be available on this webpage.

    The Commission uses the Commonwealth Translating and Interpreting Service (TIS).

     Electors are encouraged to call the free number 13 14 50 and ask the interpreter to call the Western Australian Electoral Commission on 13 63 06. 

     Other assistance at Polling Places:

• Magnifying sheets

• Audio loop in selected locations

• Triangular grips for pencils

• If a voter cannot leave their car, a polling place manager (PPM) will come over and hand them a voting pack 

The Commission will provide hand sanitiser at all voting locations. The WA's Department of Health guidelines How to Reduce Your Risk of COVID-19 Infection outline how we can all reduce the risk of COVID-19 infection. It is also recommended that voters regularly check wa.gov.au for up to date advice on COVID-19. 

You can view a snack-size presentation from the Electoral Education Centre on how to vote in a by-election here. Content covered in this presentation includes the below. You can also view the video here.

  A candidate must lodge a nomination deposit of $250 paid by cash, cheque or EFT, and a nomination form with the Returning Officer.

The place of declaration of nominations for this election is:

  Carnarvon Shire Offices

  3 Francis Street, Carnarvon.

  The Returning Officer will be present here from 11am to 12 noon on Friday, 26 August 2022 to accept final nominations.

At 12 noon on Friday 26 August 2022 the Returning Officer will then produce all nomination forms, declare the names, occupations and residences of all  nominated candidates, and conduct the draw of the position of candidates' names on the ballot papers.

Political parties are required to disclose any electoral expenditure incurred for the by-election.

Any person, other than a candidate or political party, that incurs expenditure for a political purpose is referred to as an 'other person', and also has an obligation to disclose any gifts received toward that purpose and the expenditure incurred. Disclosure is provided by the lodgement of an election return,  which must be submitted within 15 weeks after polling day.

  Links to further information:

• Funding and Disclosure Guidelines 

• Political Finance Timeline for the by-election

Forms 

• FD06 - Disclosure of gifts and expenditure by a candidate 

• FD09 - Disclosure by other persons who incur electoral expenditure

• FD10 - Disclosure of expenditure by a political party 

Electoral funding, or reimbursement of electoral expenditure, is payable where a candidate has received at least 4% of the first preference vote in an  election. Further information can be found on the Reimbursement of Electoral Expenditure page of the Commission's website. Claims must be lodged within 20 weeks after polling day by either the candidate or their agent, if the candidate is not endorsed by a political party, or by the party agent for a candidate endorsed by a political party. 

  Forms:

• FD11 - Political party funding claim

• FD12 - Candidate funding claim

In accordance with section 193(1) of the Electoral Act, the Electoral Commissioner has declared that the boundaries of the polling area for each polling place are within a 100-metre radius from each entrance to the polling place. 

You can view the North West Central By-election press advertisement here.