This is Quark Beat's Simple How to Vote Guide for Western Australian State Elections. Section One covers the Legislative Assembly (Lower House), and Section Two covers the Legislative Council (Upper House). This guide was compiled with the assistance of Grok xAI. Elections in Western Australia are managed by the Western Australian Electoral Commission (WAEC), and voting is compulsory. Here’s your complete guide:
Check Your Enrolment
Ensure you’re enrolled to vote with the Western Australian Electoral Commission (WAEC). You must be an Australian citizen, 18 or older, and registered by the deadline (usually 6 pm, 9 days before election day).
Find Your District
Confirm your district (voting area) on the WAEC website using your address. There are 59 districts in WA, like Fremantle or Albany.
Know the Election Date
State elections are held every 4 years on the second Saturday in March. The next election is in March 2029, as the last one was in March 2025. Check the WAEC for updates or by-elections.
Voting Options
In Person: Vote on election day (a Saturday) at a polling place in your district, open 8 am to 6 pm.
Early Voting: Vote at an early voting centre if you can’t make it on election day (starts about 2 weeks prior).
Postal Vote: Apply for a postal vote via the WAEC if you’ll be away or unable to attend in person.
What to Bring
No ID is required, but bring something with your name and address (e.g., driver’s license) if you’re unsure or voting outside your district.
Voting Process
You’ll get two ballot papers: one for the Legislative Assembly (Lower House) to elect your local MP, and one for the Legislative Council (Upper House) to elect statewide members.
Legislative Assembly (Lower House)
Legislative Assembly Ballot
below: WAEC Legislative Assembly Ballot Guide
What You’re Voting For: One Member of Parliament (MP) for your local district (e.g., Fremantle, Albany)—59 seats total across Western Australia.
How to Vote: Number every box next to all candidates, from your favorite (1) to least favorite (last number). This is full preferential voting and is required.
Get Your Ballot: It’s a smaller paper listing candidates for your district (no “above the line” option here).
Number Every Box: Write a number next to each candidate’s name in the order you prefer them—1 for your top pick, 2 for your next, and so on—until every candidate has a unique number. For example, if there are 5 candidates, number them 1 to 5.
No Skips or Repeats: Every box needs a number, and you can’t use the same number twice (e.g., two 1s) or leave any blank—otherwise, it’s informal and won’t count.
Watch Out: A “donkey vote” (e.g., 1, 2, 3 down the list) still counts but gives your top pick to whoever’s listed first, often favoring big parties.
How Votes Are Counted (Instant Runoff Voting):
Count all "1" votes. If someone gets over 50%, they win.
If no majority, eliminate the candidate with the fewest "1" votes.
Redistribute their votes to the next preference (e.g., "2").
Repeat until one candidate has over 50%.
Example: Candidates: A (40%), B (35%), C (25%). C is eliminated; votes split 20% to A, 5% to B. New tally: A (48%), B (37%). A wins.
Outcome: The winner has majority support after preferences.
What You’re Voting For: 37 members statewide (a single electorate covering all of WA, new for 2025).
How to Vote: Pick one method—don’t mix them, or your vote’s informal:
Above the Line (Party/Group Vote):
Put a “1” in the box of your favorite party or group (e.g., Libertarians, Independents, Shooters, Fishers and Farmers).
The minimum is 1, but you should number all the group boxes in the order of your preference—2, 3, 4, and so on—until every group has a unique number to make your vote count. This keeps your preferences flowing to as many candidates as possible, maximizing your say in who gets elected.
Leave the below-the-line section blank.
Below the Line (Candidate Vote):
Number at least 20 candidates with 1 to 20 in the order you prefer them (e.g., 1 for your top pick, 2 for next, up to 20)—that’s the minimum for a formal vote.
For a full preference vote, it’s worth numbering all candidates—say, 1 to 257 like in 2025—to keep your vote active right to the end. It takes a bit longer but ensures you influence every seat.
Leave the above-the-line section blank.
Watch Out: Skipping numbers or mixing above and below makes your vote informal. A donkey vote (e.g., 1–20 straight down) counts but often helps the top-listed candidates—usually the big players.
How Votes Are Counted (Single Transferable Vote - STV):
Quota: To win, a candidate needs a quota—total formal votes divided by 38 (37 seats + 1), roughly 2.63% of the statewide vote in 2025 (e.g., ~39,474 votes with 1.5 million formal votes).
Above the Line: Your numbers flow to candidates within your 1st group first, then to your 2nd group’s candidates, and so on, as per their party order (no group voting tickets anymore—your order rules). Numbering all boxes ensures your vote keeps working through eliminations or surpluses.
Below the Line: Your 1 goes to that candidate. If they hit the quota, any extra votes (surplus) transfer to your 2 at a reduced value. If your 1’s eliminated (fewest votes), it moves to your 2 full-strength. This repeats until your vote elects someone or runs out.
Endgame: Once 37 are elected, or if candidates left equal vacancies, they’re in—even if short of the quota.
Example: Above the line, numbering all groups in your preferred order means your vote could flow from Greens to Labor to an independent if earlier picks win or lose; below, numbering all 257 candidates keeps your vote bouncing till the last seat’s filled.
Outcome: Members are elected proportionally. In the 2025 election, Labor won 16 seats, the Liberals 10, the Nationals 2, and the Greens 4. Smaller parties also gained representation: One Nation, Legalise Cannabis, and Australian Christians each secured 1 seat. Other parties like the Libertarian Party and Shooters Fishers and Farmers contested but didn’t win seats. A group of Independents, including sitting MLCs Louise Kingston, Aussie Trump, and Wilson Tucker, were in contention for a seat, potentially boosted by below-the-line votes, though their final outcome is still pending as of late March 2025. Numbering all boxes, especially below the line, ensures your vote shapes every seat.
Submit Your Vote
Place your completed ballots in the ballot box at the polling place.
Key Tips
Voting is compulsory—fines apply if you don’t vote without a valid reason.
Informal votes (skips, repeats, mixing methods) and donkey votes waste your power. Number as many boxes as you can—especially in the Legislative Council below the line—to make your vote count!
Check WAEC.wa.gov.au for updates, locations, or candidate details.
Polling places often have sausage sizzles—grab a snag and enjoy the tradition!
Key Features of Preferential Voting
No Wasted Votes: Your vote flows to your next preference if your top pick can’t win.
Majority Support: Winners need broad approval.
Managed by the WAEC: It’s transparent, but Council counts take longer due to preferences.
That’s it! You’re ready to vote in the WA State Election, make your voice heard, and maybe enjoy a snag on election day.
