Represent your community
Becoming a Council member is a great opportunity to represent your local community and be involved in the City's decision-making process.
In the upcoming City of Kalgoorlie-Boulder election (to be held on 18 October 2025) the following positions are open for election:
- 4 Councillors - elected for 4-year term (Expiry of term 20 October 2029)
Nominations
Open: Thursday 28 August
Close: Thursday 4 September
The role of a council member
Generally, local government council members, who include the Mayor and Councillors, do not have any authority to act or make decisions as individuals. They are members of an elected body that makes decisions on behalf of a local government through a formal meeting process.
Key responsibilities of council members include:
- Providing leadership and guidance to the community
- Facilitating communication between the community and the council
- Determining policy
- Planning for the future
- Managing assets
- Governing finances
- Reviewing policy
2025 Local Government Candidate Resources
Click the link below for important information about what’s involved in becoming a candidate in the 2025 Local Government Elections. Resources include a candidate information video, powrpoint, information guide and nomination builder.
Nominating for Council
Eligibility requirements
Under the Local Government Act 1995, to be eligible to nominate as a candidate for a local government election, the
- an elector of the district (residential or owner/occupier) and
- over 18 years of age.
- Not disqualified by anything below.
A person cannot nominate to be a candidate nor remain a councillor if they:
- are a member of State or Federal Parliament
- are a member of the council of another local government
- are an insolvent under administration
- are in prison serving a sentence for a crime
- have been convicted of a serious local government offence within the last five years (unless the court waived the disqualification)
- have been convicted on indictment of an offence for which the indictable penalty was, or included:
- imprisonment for life, or
- imprisonment for more than five years
- are subject to a court order disqualifying them from being a member of a council because they have misapplied local government funds or property
- are a nominee of a body corporate
- propose standing for two positions on council (unless standing for mayor or president as well as councillor)
- are currently disqualified by the State Administrative Tribunal from holding office as a member of a council.
Before nominating, all candidates must complete an online induction via the Department of Creative Industries, Tourism and Sport.
How to nominate
To nominate as a candidate for a local government election, the candidate must submit an application consisting of:
- a completed nomination form. For elections being run by the WAEC, it is recommended that candidates use Nomination Builder to complete their nomination form and construct their candidate profile.
- a candidate profile which must:
- be in English
- be no more than 1000 characters (including spaces)
- not contain false, defamatory or misleading information
- fit on an A4 page
- include the candidate’s full name and contact information
- a photograph, no larger than passport-sized and taken in the last six months (optional).
- a deposit of $100
Candidates may also provide a written statement in English, of up to 2,000 characters (including spaces) with their nomination paper (optional).
All nomination applications must be signed by the candidate in front of a witness.
The nomination application must be submitted to the Returning Officer during the nomination period.
As the Returning Officer may ask candidates to amend their nomination, it is recommended that candidates ensure they have allowed sufficient time to finalise any required changes before the close of nominations.
More information
Additional information for candidates can be found on the Department of Local Government, Sport and Cultural Industries website.
More information
You can find more detailed information on the Western Australian Electoral Commission or the Department of Local Government, Sport and Cultural Industries websites.
From 4pm 4 September 2025 until completion of the election, the City will be in its Caretaker Period.
The City’s Electoral Caretaker Period Policy sets out requirements for this period, including as follows:
- No “major policy decisions” can be made during the caretaker period, either by Council or delegated authority (unless exceptional circumstances as set out in the policy apply);
- The City will ensure that all candidates are given equitable access to City information;
- Council members will be given information and assistance only to the extent required in relation to their role as Council members and for current relevant matters (ie not in relation to campaign matters);
- Council members who are renominating for election cannot use official CKB material including photographs, polo shirts, business cards, email accounts in their campaign material or communications;
- Council members who are renominating for election cannot use their Council-related positions on external bodies to support their campaign; and
- The City will update its website and social media in accordance with the policy.
Candidates must familiarise themselves with this policy which can be found here.
The Local Government Act 1995 requires the City to adopt a code of conduct for council members (elected members), committee members and local government election candidates.
The City of Kalgoorlie-Boulder Code of Conduct for Council Members, Committee Members and Candidates applies to all candidates in the election.
Candidates must abide by the code of conduct during the election and afterwards, should they be elected as a Council member.
Candidates that breach the code of conduct during their election campaign may be subject to a complaint under that code which will be dealt with in accordance with the Local Government Act 1995 and Regulations.
To view the Code of Conduct for Council Members, Committee Members and Candidates click here.
A common area or concern for some candidates relates to the authorisation of election campaign material. It is important to note that any material “that is intended, calculated or likely to affect voting in an election” is required to be authorised.
The requirements relating to the authorisation of election material apply irrespective of who is publishing the material and whether it is in printed or electronic form.
Any electoral advertisement, handbill, pamphlet or electoral notice (other than an advertisement in a newspaper announcing the holding of a meeting), letter or article must include the name and physical street address (not a PO Box number) of the person authorising it, at the foot of the material. If the material is printed in hard copy, then it must also include the name and place of business of the printer at the foot of the material. This applies unless the advertisement is in a newspaper (in which case the printer is obvious and contactable).
If election material is produced and printed by the one person (eg. using a home computer and printer), then the legislative provisions are satisfied by adding ‘Authorised and printed by (name), (address)’ at the foot of the material.
Certain small items of a candidate or party promotional nature are exempt from the requirement to carry the authorisation and addresses. These include:
- T-shirts, lapel buttons, lapel badges, pens, pencils or balloons
- Business or visiting cards that promote the candidacy of any person in an election.
For more information click here.
Prior to nomination, candidates must complete an online induction to be fully aware of what to expect as an elected member and the rules related of campaigning. For more information click here.
