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Enrolling to Vote
You only have to fill in one enrolment form to be enrolled for Commonwealth, State and Local Government elections and referenda in Western Australia.
Am I eligible to enrol?
How do I enrol?
What if I change my address?
Special category enrolment
Check your enrolment
What should I do if going overseas?
Am I eligible to enrol?
You are eligible to enrol as an elector for the Legislative Assembly and Legislative Council if:
- you are 17 years of age or older; and
- you are an Australian citizen; * and
- you have lived at your present address for at least the last month.
* British subjects who are not Australian citizens are eligible to enrol for Western Australian State elections if they were on the State or Commonwealth roll within the period 26 October 1983 to 25 January 1984 inclusive.
For more information refer to the Electoral Act 1907 (S17).
How do I enrol?
It is compulsory to enrol and vote for all Commonwealth and State elections in Australia, but before you can vote you must place your name on the electoral roll.
You can enrol or update your enrolment details by:
- Filling in the Smartform online. To comply with State legislation, you will still need to print, sign and return the completed form to be eligible to vote in State and Local Government elections.
This link will direct you to another website that is managed by the Australian Electoral Commission. You need to have the latest version of Adobe Acrobat reader installed to use this form. If you don't, the form will prompt you to download the latest version.
If you have any problems using the form please contact the Australian Electoral Commission on 13 23 26.
- downloading and filling in the enrolment form by hand. This is a PDF version of the form that must be posted or hand delivered to any Electoral commission office (PDF, 484 kB)
The online enrolment form is the preferred form. If you can't use that form you can complete the PDF version of the form.
- completing a paper enrolment form
Paper Enrolment forms can be found at:
- The Office of the Western Australian Electoral Commission;
- Post Offices;
- The electorate offices of Members of Parliament;
- Offices of the Australian Electoral Commission.
Some groups of electors require special category enrolment forms, please refer to the topic special category enrolment.
Once your enrolment has been processed you will then be sent an acknowledgment advising you of your Electoral District.
For more information refer to the Electoral Act 1907 (S41-46).
What if I change my address?
Once you have lived at your new address for more than one month you are eligible to be enrolled for your new address. You are required to enrol for your new address within 21 days of being entitled to be enrolled. It is important to keep your enrolment up to date to ensure your name is included on the correct roll if an election is called and to retain your right to vote.
To change your enrolment details, complete the enrolment form in How do I enrol? above.
Special category enrolment
The Electoral Act 1907 allows for electors who are enrolled under the Commonwealth Electoral Act 1918 as "Overseas Electors" or as "Itinerant Electors" to be automatically enrolled on the State roll. Special category enrolment is not compulsory, and may be cancelled if you do not vote.
An Overseas Elector is an elector who is living overseas and wants to remain enrolled and vote in State elections. Overseas electors can apply to be registered as General Early Voters and automatically be sent ballot papers when ever an election is held.
An Itinerant Elector is an elector who is unable to satisfy the one month residency requirement of ordinary enrolment because they have no fixed address and wants to remain enrolled and vote in State elections.
For information about special category enrolment and to download special category enrolment forms please visit the Australian Electoral Commission website.
Check your enrolment
You can check your enrolment using our on-line facility. Alternatively, you can check your enrolment using the computer terminals located at our main office. Positive confirmation of enrolment can also be obtained by contacting the Commission.
