Political Party Registration

Background
Eligibility for Registration
Names of Political Parties
Applications for Registration
Registration
Public access to the Register
Amendments to the Register
Cancellations of Registered Parties
Review of decisions
Registered Political Parties

Background

Legislation for the Registration of Political Parties is contained in Part IIIA of the Electoral Act 1907. Eligible political parties may now be registered by the Electoral Commissioner, enabling the use of a party name or abbreviation on the ballot paper. Unregistered parties will not be able to use a party name on ballot papers.

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Eligibility for Registration

Political parties are eligible for registration if they have at least 500 members who are electors and have a constitution that specifies as one of its objects or activities the promotion of the election to the Parliament of the State of a candidate or endorsed candidates. Members include members of related parties when one is part of the other or both are parts of the same political party.

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Names of Political Parties

The name must not:

• contain more than 6 words
• be obscene or offensive
• be an existing party name or nearly resemble a party name
• be a public body name, or nearly resemble a public body name
• include the words "royal" or "independent"
• otherwise cause confusion if registered.

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Applications for Registration

An application for registration is to be submitted on the approved form (Form RA01) by the secretary of the party to the Electoral Commissioner.

• the name of the political party
• an abbreviation of the party name for use on ballot papers, if applicable
• the name and address of the secretary
• the names and addresses of at least 500 members who are electors. Download Statement of Party Membership Form - Form RM01 below, to be completed and signed by each party member.
• a copy of the party's constitution
• any other prescribed information.

Downloads available:

Registering a Political Party - Guidelines Download

66.31 kB Registering a Political Party in Western Australia - Guidelines.

FD13 - Application to Register a Political Party Download

29.61 kB FD13 - Application to Register a Political Party.

FD14 - Statement of Party Membership Download

26.95 kB FD14 - Statement of Party Membership.

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Applications for registration will be determined in the order in which they are received.

Details of the application will be published by the Electoral Commissioner in a notice in the Western Australian Government Gazette and a newspaper circulating in the state inviting electors to submit any reasons for objection to registration. Objections are to be submitted within one month after the day of publication of the Gazette notice.

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Registration

If the Electoral Commissioner is satisfied that the application complies with the requirements of the Act after considering all relevant information and public submissions, the party will be registered. This is effected by entering the details in the Register of Political Parties. The party's registration will be notified in the Gazette and the party secretary will be notified in writing. If the application is refused the Electoral Commissioner will give the party secretary written notice of the reasons for the refusal.

During an election period (ie from the day of the issue of the writ until the last day for the return of the writ) no action will be taken on the registration of political parties.

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Public access to the Register

Public inspection is available without fee at the office of the Electoral Commissioner. As soon as practicable after the issue of the writ for an election, the Electoral Commissioner is required to publish in the Gazette the names of all political parties and their secretaries included in the Register.

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Amendments to the Register

The secretary of a registered political party may make an application to amend the information or replace documents in the register. However this still has to be in accordance with the provisions of the Act.

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Cancellations of Registered Parties

The Electoral Commissioner may cancel the registration of a political party at the request of the secretary or for any of the following reasons:

• the party no longer exists
• it is not a parliamentary party and does not have at least 500 members who are electors
• a registered party has failed to endorse a candidate in a general election subsequent to registration
• registration was obtained by fraud or misrepresentation
• a return required under Part VI (political finance) by the agent for that party has been outstanding more than twelve months.

The Electoral Commissioner is required to give written notice of the intention to cancel registration (other than if obtained by fraud or misrepresentation) to the secretary of the political party and also publish a notice in the Gazette and a newspaper circulating in the State. Persons may, within 14 days after the Gazette notice, object to the proposed cancellation in writing. The Electoral Commissioner is to consider any objection before taking action on cancellation.

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Review of decisions

Any person affected by the Electoral Commissioner's decision on registration, refusal of registration, cancellation of a registration or amendment of registration may apply in writing to the Supreme Court for a review of the decision. This must be within one month of the Electoral Commissioner's decision.

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Registered Political Parties

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