Council Composition

As part of the Local Government Reform, in 2023 all local government representation was reviewed and it was determined by the Minister for Local Government to reduce the Murray Council from 8 Councillors and for the Shire President to be elected by the community instead of the Council.

At the upcoming election there are 5 Councillor vacancies, but it’s important for candidates to note that the 5^th vacancy is only for a 2 year term to give effect to the changes to our representation.

The Office of the President is also up for election as a result of David Bolt being elected to State parliament, the election of the President at the 2025 election will be for the remaining term, expiring in 2027.

October Election 2025

• 5 Councillor vacancies
• 1 for only 2 year term
• 1 President vacancy
• Only 2 year term

Voting Method and Count

The Shire of Murray appoints the Western Australian Electoral Commission (WAEC) to conduct its elections via a postal vote. The WAEC appoints a Returning Officer, who oversees the conduct of the election. This includes taking candidate nominations and supervising the count on election night.

Election packages are posted to all electors on the Shire of Murray’s electoral rolls. Electors are to then complete their packages and return them via the mail or hand deliver into a sealed ballot box at the Shire of Murray Administration Office, 1915 Pinjarra Road, Pinjarra before 6pm on election day.

The count commences at 6.00pm on election day and results will be made publicly available via the WAEC Website once declared by the Returning Officer.

Optional Preferential Voting

The Local Government Act 1995 has also been changed to bring in optional preferential voting into local government elections.

Optional preferential voting is very similar to the way you vote in State and Federal elections; however, you do not have to assign every candidate with your preferences. You can vote for one, some or all candidates on the ballot paper.

With optional preferential voting, if the candidate you have given your first preference to is eliminated from the count, your vote will be redistributed to your next preference on the ballot paper. This process will continue until one candidate has the majority of votes.

For more information on optional preferential voting, please visit the Department of Local Government, Industry Regulation and Safety website.

Where can I get more information about the election process and running as a candidate for election?

Prospective candidates are encouraged to:

Visit the Department of Local Government, Industry Regulation and Safety websitepens in a new windowopens in a new windo for detailed information on becoming a candidate and running your election campaign 

Visit the Western Australian Electoral Commission websiteopens in a new windowopens in a new window for information on making your nomination and required forms and the election process.

Helpful information links and forms

• Department of Local Government, Industry Regulation and Safetyopens in a new windowopens in a new window
• Western Australian Electoral Commission websiteopens in a new windowopens in a new window 
• Local Government Candidate Induction
• Local Government Act 1995
• Local Government (Elections) Regulations 1997
• Form 2 Enrolment Eligibility Claim form 
• Form 2C Nomination by a Body Corporate form
• Disclosure of Gifts - Candidates information
• Form 9A - Disclosure of Gifts - Candidates

Becoming an Elected Member

If you would like to make a difference to your community, stand for election at the upcoming October 2025 local election for the Shire of Murray.

Becoming an Elected Member will give you an opportunity to influence decisions and actively contribute to the Shire of Murray community development and growth.

To be eligible to nominate for a local government election, a candidate must be:

• An elector of the district (residential or owner/occupier).
• Over 18 years of age.

Additional requirements are listed on Western Australian Electoral Commission website.

Candidates must complete the Local Government Candidate Induction and are to contact the WAEC appointed Returning Officer for details on nominations and election process.

Candidate Information Sessions

WALGA Candidate Information Session recording conducted on 18 August 2025.

Nominating as a Candidate for Election

To stand for election as a Council Member, you must:

• be 18 years of age or older;
• be an elector of the district; and
• complete the Local Government Candidate Induction.

The role of Council Member is rewarding and challenging, and can often be time consuming, demanding and complex but it also will give you an opportunity to contribute to the community and influence decisions that shape the future of the Shire of Murray.

Council Members have the opportunity to: 

• provide leadership and guidance to the community
• facilitate communication between community and the Council
• help determine and review policy
• influence the local government planning for the future
• help to ensure the community gets the best possible value from its assets
• govern the finances of the local government through the corporate business plan and long-term financial planning.

The Department of Local Government, Industry Regulation and Safety website provides more information on the role of council member.

Nominations for the election open on Thursday 28 August 2025 and close at 4.00pm on Thursday 4 September 2025.

Please ensure you contact the Returning Officer to book your nomination meeting. 

There is a nomination deposit of $100 that is payable at the time of your nomination. This deposit is refunded to the candidate if the candidate:

• is successful in being elected to the Shire Council;
• receives at least 5% of the total number of first preference votes;
• passes away; or
• withdraws their nomination before the close of nominations.

If a candidate runs for President and Councillor, and is successful in being elected President, that candidate's deposit for the Councillor election is also refunded. 

The Shire will be in contact with all candidates following the election to confirm their eligibility for a refund and to arrange for those refunds, where eligible.

Election candidate signage and advertising requirements

As a candidate for an upcoming election you may wish to seek community through advertising.

Candidates should ensure any campaign signage does not include the Shire of Murray crest or logo and is in compliance with Council Policy G9 – Election Signs and Mobile Information Centres During Election Campaigns which sets out the requirements for election signage and Main Roads WA Guidelines Roadside Election Signs.

There are a number of rules for election advertising and the Candidate should ensure that these are complied with. For information on your campaign advertising please go to the WAEC website.

Candidates must not use the following:

• Shire of Murray logos or crests
• Photos from the Shire's website or social media platforms.

Candidates may share Shire of Murray information with direct links from the Shire's website or share posts from the Shire's official social media accounts.

Declaring Electoral Gifts

Candidates are required to disclose to the Chief Executive Officer the receipt, promise or donation of each gift they receive or are promised or donate in the course of an election campaign.  The period over which you must declare gifts starts six months before the election day and concludes 3 days after the election for unsuccessful candidates and the day a candidate makes their declaration of office for successful candidates. 

Potential candidates should familiarise themselves with the requirements of election gifts. These requirements are contained within Part 5A of the Local Government (Elections) Regulations 1997. 

Electoral gift register

Any disclosure of gifts forms relating to a candidate must be maintained on the electoral gift register untilopens in a new window the end of the period of 4 years after the relevant election and include both successful and unsuccessful candidates disclosures. At the end of the 4-year term they will be removed from the electoral gift register and maintained separately for an additional 2 years

How a disclosure is made

Form 9A is to be filled out to declare an election gift and emailed to the CEO - CEO@murray.wa.gov.au. The gift disclosure will then be added to the Election Gift Register which is publicly available on the Shire of Murray Website.

Legislation requires the Chief Executive Officer to establish and maintain a public electoral gift register located on the Shire's website.

Contact our Manager Governance for any further information by emailing governance@murray.wa.gov.au or phone 08 9531 7777.

Make your vote count in the Local Government Election

The Shire of Murray encourages everyone that is eligible to make their vote count by voting in the election for their preferred local representative(s).

Voting in a local government election is not compulsory in Western Australia, however, all electors are strongly encouraged to vote.

The Western Australian Electoral Commission (WAEC) conducts the Election on behalf of the Shire of Murray, and it is a postal election.

All eligible electors will receive a postal voting package two to three weeks prior to polling day, depending on the service of Australia Post. 

The package will include a list of candidates, ballot papers, instructions on how to vote and a declaration.

The next election will be held on Saturday 18 October 2025.

A full copy of the Election Timetable and additional information can be accessed on the WAEC website https://www.elections.wa.gov.au/elections/local.

How to vote

An election package, including ballot papers, reply paid envelopes, a list of candidates, instructions on how to vote and a declaration are mailed to all electors approximately two to three weeks before Election Day, depending on the service of Australia Post.

Electors will have the opportunity to make their vote count by either:

• Posting using the reply-paid envelope provided, or
• Delivered in person to the Shire of Murray Administration Office at 1915 Pinjarra Road, Pinjarra, during normal business hours and placed into the sealed ballot box provided.

The Shire of Murray Administration Office will be open 8.00am to 6.00pm on Election Day.

Enrolment

Shire of Murray resident

• Shire of Murray residents enrolled on the State electoral roll are eligible to vote at Council elections. Check your enrolment details are up to date at Check Your Enrolment on the WAEC website.
• If you are an owner or occupier of rateable property within the Shire of Murray, and meet the eligibility criteria, you are entitled to be enrolled to vote at Council elections. Go to Owner and Occupiers Roll Information below.

If you are not on the State electoral roll and you are 18 years or older, an Australian citizen and lived at your current address for at least one month, please visit the Enrolment Page of the WAEC website to enrol online or to download an enrolment form.

Shire of Murray non-resident (Owner and Occupier Roll)

If you don't live in the Shire of Murray but:

• own a rateable property
• own or operate a business in the Shire (right of continuous occupation under a lease, tenancy agreement or other legal instrument for at least the next three months following the date of application)

You must apply to be placed on the Owner and Occupiers roll by lodging an Enrolment Eligibility Claim Form or Nomination by a Body Corporate Form and lodge at the Shire of Murray Administration Office, via mail Shire of Murray, 1915 Pinjarra Road, Pinjarra WA 6208 or email to mailbag@murray.wa.gov.au. Links for these forms are provided below.

The electoral rolls close on Friday 22 August 2025, so please ensure your enrolment details are up to date before this time, or you may miss out.

Replacement Ballot Papers

Replacement ballot papers are available for registered voters at the Shire’s Administration Office, 1915 Pinjarra Road, Pinjarra, during normal business hours and on Saturday 18 October 2025 from 8.00am to 6.00pm.

Close of Enrolments

Public notice

Call for Nominations

Public notice