What you need to know about the 2025 local government elections
Update as of 8 October 2025: If you'd like to vote in the upcoming election on Saturday 18 October and have not yet mailed your vote in, it's recommended to come and vote in-person in case of delays in the mail system.
This year, the City of Subiaco local government election will be held on Saturday 18 October.
Local government elections are a great way to get involved in your community, contribute to a democracy and have a say on who will represent you in making decisions about local issues.
To help you find out more about the elections, we’ve put some FAQs below.
Q: How often are local government elections held?
A: Every two years, usually on the third Saturday in October.
Q: Who will run the City of Subiaco election?
A: The Western Australian Electoral Commission (WAEC) has appointed a returning officer to oversee the election, including accepting candidate nominations and supervising the count on election night.
Q: Why should I vote?
A: By participating in the City of Subiaco election, you can have a say on who will represent you in making decisions about local issues, such as community assets, infrastructure, services, allocation of resources and setting council’s policies. The more people who vote, the more representative Council will be.
Q: How do I vote?
A: All registered voters, whether they be listed on the residents’ roll or the owner/occupier roll, can vote by postal vote or by dropping their ballot papers off at the City’s Administration Centre before 6pm on election day. Voting packages will be sent to all electors approximately three weeks before election day.
Q: What is the make-up of the City of Subiaco council?
A: Council comprises of a Mayor, and eight Councillors representing each of the City’s four wards (north, east, central and south). All members of council are elected by the electors of the City.
Q: Who will I be voting for this year?
A; This year there is one vacancy in the Central Ward, one vacancy in the East Ward, and one vacancy in the South Ward. Electors in these wards will receive ballot papers with candidate information, to place their vote.
Following close of nominations at 4pm on 4 September 2025, it was confirmed by the Returning Officer that the one vacancy in the North Ward will be filled by Rosemarie de Vries, who was elected unopposed for another term.
David McMullen was also re-elected unopposed as Mayor.
Q: How do I find out more about the candidates?
A: All candidate profiles are posted on the City’s website, as well as the City’s notice boards at the Administration Centre and the Library.
Q: How does the voting process work?
A: Local government elections use the optional preferential voting system. This means that electors have the choice to number the candidates in the order of their preference. You do not have to number all the boxes if you don’t want to.
Electors have the choice to:
vote for one candidate - by putting a 1 next to their name;
vote for some candidates - by numbering several candidates in the order of your preference;
vote for all candidates - in the order of your preference.
Q: How do I find out the results of the election?
A: The count commences at 6pm on election day and results are usually available later that evening on the Western Australian Electoral Commission and the City of Subiaco website.
Should the count not be completed by 11pm on election day, it will resume at 9am the following day.
