Ordinary Council Elections

The owner/occupier roll is an electoral roll for Local Government Elections where people who own or occupy property within a Local Government District and are enrolled to vote at another address, can apply to their local government to be included on the roll as an owner/occupier.

Enrolment on the owner/occupier roll allows a person who is enrolled to vote at one address, and owns or occupies property at a different address, to a vote in both areas. It also allows non-resident co-owners and occupiers who are enrolled to vote at another address, or a body corporate, to apply to nominate up to two eligible electors to be included on the owner/occupier roll.

People who own or occupy property within the Town of Cambridge (the Town) can apply to be included on the roll as an owner/occupier, as long as they are eligible electors. An eligible elector is someone who is currently on the State or Commonwealth Electoral Roll, or who qualifies under clause 12 of Schedule 9.3 to the Local Government Act 1995. To qualify under clause 12 the elector must:

• Own or occupy rateable property in the electorate;

• Have been on the last electoral roll prepared under the Local Government Act 1960 for that electorate; and

• Have owned or occupied rateable property in the electorate since that roll was prepared.

People who are already enrolled as electors on the State Electoral Roll for their residential address, are automatically enrolled on the Resident’s Roll for Local Government Elections and will not need to make a claim for enrolment. If you are a resident of the Town and not already enrolled to vote at your residence, you must make a claim for enrolment with the State Electoral Commission.

Occupiers of rateable land in the Town that are not on the Resident’s Roll are eligible to vote in local government elections however, they will need to complete an Enrolment Eligibility Claim Form and have it accepted by the Town, and have a right of continuous occupation under lease, tenancy agreement or other legal instrument for a minimum of three months from the date of application.

Where rateable property is owned or occupied by more than two people, a majority of the owners and occupiers may nominate two persons from amongst themselves, to be enrolled as owner/occupier electors. Those two nominees must be enrolled on either the State or Commonwealth electoral rolls for an address outside of the ward where the property is situated.

If the joint owners own properties in more than one ward the same nominees must apply for both wards. Occupiers are requested to attach a copy of the lease, tenancy agreement or other legal instrument showing continuous occupation for at least three months from the date of application.

A body corporate, which owns or occupies rateable property, may nominate two persons provided they are enrolled on either the State or Commonwealth electoral rolls. If the body corporate owns properties in more than one ward the same nominees must apply for both wards. The Town requires confirmation in writing from the body corporate, stating the names of the nominees.

For occupiers and corporations, if an enrolment eligibility claim is accepted it will remain valid for the next two ordinary elections in the Town. After that period, if the elector wants to retain their eligibility, they will need to make another enrolment eligibility claim. Eligibility for property owners remains in force until the property is sold or they wish to cancel their enrolment.

Enrolment forms can be obtained from the Town and must be lodged with the Chief Executive Officer prior to the close of rolls for any Local Government Election to be accepted for that election. Further information on the close of rolls can be obtained by contacting the Town.

The state electoral roll and owner and occupier roll are publicly available for inspection. If you are of the opinion that the publication of your address would place your safety, or the safety of your family, at risk you can apply to have your address removed from the roll.

If you are enrolled on the state electoral roll, you can make a claim under s51B of the Electoral Act 1907. Fill out the Application for Removal of Address from State Electoral Roll(PDF, 123KB) form and send it to:

Electoral Commissioner 
GPO Box 9867 
Perth WA 6848

To check you are enrolled to vote please go to Check Your Enrolment.

If your enrolment enquiry is for the Town's Owner/ Occupier Roll, please contact the rates team on (08) 9347 6000 or via rates@cambridge.wa.gov.au