2026 Local Government Election

When is the Local Government Election for Port Hedland?

The Local Government election for Port Hedland will occur on Saturday 28 March 2026. The Western Australian Electoral Commission will conduct a postal vote for the Town of Port Hedland.

Why is it important to vote in the Port Hedland Local Government Election?

The Town of Port Hedland plays a vital role in delivering public services and infrastructure, enabling communities to flourish. The Town plays a crucial role by advocating for grassroots issues to the state and federal governments. It's ideally positioned to listen to the community, understand the changing community needs and expectations as the council is often comprised of people who have lived and/ worked in the community they represent.

Why are we having this election?

The March 2026 Local Government election will elect a mayor and four full-term councillors (four-year term) and four half-term councillors (two-year term) to represent the Port Hedland community.

Who is responsible for running the Local Government election?

A Returning Officer, appointed by the Western Australian Electoral Commissioner, will oversee the election in Port Hedland.

Can I vote in Local Government Election?

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.

Owners and Occupiers

People who own or occupy rateable property within a local government district, can apply to the Town of Port Hedland to be included on the roll as an owner/occupier, if they are eligible electors. You can read more here.

Check your enrolment details on the AEC website, if

• if you have lived in Port Hedland for at least a month
• turned 18 years of age
• recently became an Australian citizen
• can vote in the State and Federal elections

British subjects who were enrolled between 26 October 1983 and 25 January 1984 inclusive, and who live in Western Australia, can vote in local government elections.

Do I have to vote in the Local Government Election?

Every vote is equal and every vote counts. Your vote will count. Voting in local government election is the way the community can choose who represents them in Council. Local government elections influence the policies that directly affect the neighbourhood – services, facilities, events, activities, infrastructure, public works – liveability. Voting in local government elections is not compulsory.

How can I vote?

The Town of Port Hedland will conduct a postal vote for this year’s election. You can see more details about postal voting here. The Town of Port Hedland will provide more information about postal voting soon.

I'm a fly-in, fly-out worker and live in Port Hedland as a part-time renter. Can I vote in the postal Port Hedland Election?

If your residential address is outside Port Hedland but you also reside within the area and at a rateable property, you may be eligible to vote in the election.

If this sounds like you, your company, which owns or leases the property, will need to nominate you for enrolment on the AEC's Owners and Occupiers Roll. A company or person who holds the lease can nominate up to two people to vote on behalf of the leaseholder. However, they must meet the AEC's voting requirements.

The occupied or rented space must

• have quiet enjoyment (exclusive occupation) of their occupied property
• possible to secure premises from intruders
• lease at least 10m2 of property, subject to a series of exclusions
• pay a minimum amount of rent for the property

For more information, please visit Owners and Occupiers Enrolment Eligibility Claims webpage on the Department of Local Government, Industry Regulation and Safety, Government of Western Australia website.

What information do I need to enrol and/or update my details?

If you haven't voted in an election before and meet the requirements to vote in Western Australia, then the WAEC will need to confirm your identity.

To enrol or update your enrolment details, you will need to share with the WAEC one of the following

• Australian driver's license number
• Medicare card number
• Australian passport number
• Someone who is currently enrolled can confirm your identity

Can I use my Proof of Age card to enrol with the WAEC?

No, the Electoral Commission will not accept Proof of Age cards when enrolling to vote in Western Australia.

What happens after submitting your enrolment details to AEC?

The AEC may take up to three weeks to confirm your enrolment after you complete and submit your enrolment details to them. Please ensure your contact information is accurate, as the AEC may use this time to seek further information from you to confirm your enrolment.

How can I search for my enrolment details? 

You can look up your enrolment details on the WAEC website and provide your

• Surname
• Given name
• Date of Birth
• Residential address

If your details don't appear on the WAEC, then the AEC may not have you listed, or you could be registered as a silent elector.

What is a silent elector? 

People who meet the AEC's voting requirements and need to have their details removed from the public electoral roll register may apply to become a silent elector.

A silent elector applies to individuals who believe their personal safety or the safety of their family is at risk if their details are listed on the electoral roll.

Applicants must complete a Commonwealth Statutory Declaration and explain the reasons why you and/or your family's personal safety is at risk. Your profession, having a silent phone number, or not wanting to receive junk mail aren't considered reasons for granting silent elector status. AEC will carefully consider all applications.

If there are other family members enrolled at your address with the same family name, it is strongly recommended that they also become silent electors so that the address does not appear in association with your family name on the electoral roll.

For more information, visit Silent electors - Australian Electoral Commission

If I don't have a fixed address or a real place of living, can I vote in the Port Hedland postal Election?

Every voting citizen has the right to participate in our democratic process, including individuals who are experiencing homelessness, are living in crisis or transitional accommodation or can’t access safe and secure housing.

To enrol to vote, you must check the special enrolment options and meet the AEC's itinerant voter requirements.

For more information, visit the Enrolment for people with no fixed address webpage on the Australian Electoral Commission

If a company owns a property, are Directors eligible to vote on the company's behalf?

Yes, provided the company that owns or occupies rateable property within the electorate boundaries nominates one or two people to vote on behalf of that company. These people must complete the relevant enrolment form to be listed on the Owner and Occupier Roll. If a company owns multiple properties in Port Hedland, the same two people must be nominated for all of them in that electoral boundary.

Can a company that owns property in different local government boundaries enrol to vote across both electoral boundaries?

If an elector’s property is divided by local government district boundaries, a person can go on the roll for each district. If property is divided by ward boundaries, a person is entitled to be enrolled only for the ward they nominate. If they fail to nominate for a ward, the CEO will do so. If there are separate occupancies within a building or property, up to two people can be enrolled for each occupancy.