Nominate for Election

Stand for the community you call home.

The Shire of Carnarvon will hold a Special Local Government Election on Thursday, 3 December 2026 to elect a new Shire President and all seven Councillors.

Community members who are passionate about the future of Carnarvon, Coral Bay, the horticultural area and the wider pastoral district are encouraged to consider nominating.

Council members represent their community, participate in important decisions and help set the Shire’s strategic direction, priorities, policies and budget. You do not need previous local government experience to nominate, but you should be prepared to listen, learn, work collaboratively and represent the interests of the whole community.

Key dates for candidates

Date Milestone
Wednesday, 7 October 2026 – 5.00pm Electoral rolls close
Tuesday, 13 October 2026 Candidate nominations open
Tuesday, 20 October 2026 – 4.00pm Candidate nominations close
Thursday, 3 December 2026 Election day

You must be an eligible elector of the Shire at the close of enrolments and at the time you nominate.

Positions available

Position Vacancies
Shire President 1
Town Ward Councillor 4
Plantation Ward Councillor 1
Gascoyne/Minilya Ward Councillor 1
Coral Bay Ward Councillor 1

Who can nominate?

To nominate as a candidate, you must:

  • be at least 18 years old

  • be an elector of the Shire of Carnarvon

  • meet the eligibility requirements for local government candidates

  • complete the mandatory Local Government Candidate Induction before nominating; and

  • not be enrolled solely as the nominee of a body corporate.

Additional eligibility and disqualification requirements apply. Candidates should review the full eligibility requirements for local government candidates before nominating.

Complete the mandatory candidate induction

All candidates must complete the Local Government Candidate Induction before submitting their nomination.

The online induction takes approximately 30 minutes and introduces candidates to:

  • the role and responsibilities of Council members

  • local government decision-making

  • relationships between Council members, the community and employees

  • codes of conduct

  • gifts and conflicts of interest

  • election campaigns; and

  • the obligations and commitments involved in serving on Council.

After completing the induction, you will receive an email confirming your completion. Keep a digital or printed copy, as you will need the reference number and completion date when submitting your nomination.

How to nominate

A complete nomination application must include:

  • a completed nomination form, signed by the candidate in front of a witness

  • confirmation that you have completed the mandatory candidate induction

  • a candidate profile

  • a nomination deposit of $100; and

  • written authorisation if another person lodges the nomination on your behalf.

Candidates may use the WAEC Nomination Builder to prepare their nomination form and candidate profile.

Preparing your candidate profile

Your candidate profile must:

  • be written in English

  • contain no more than 1,000 characters, including spaces

  • be confined to information about you, your policies and your beliefs

  • not contain false, misleading or defamatory information

  • fit on a single-sided A4 page; and

  • include your full name, address and contact details.

You may include a recent head or head-and-shoulders photograph. The photograph must be no larger than passport size and should have been taken within the previous six months.

Candidates may also provide an optional written statement of up to 2,000 characters, including spaces, for publication on the Shire’s website.

Lodging your nomination

Nomination applications must be submitted to the Returning Officer between Tuesday, 13 October and 4.00pm Tuesday, 20 October 2026.

Candidates are strongly encouraged to lodge their nomination early. The Returning Officer may identify missing information or ask for amendments, and these must be completed before nominations close.

A nomination cannot be accepted unless all required documents and the $100 deposit have been received by the deadline.

The Returning Officer’s contact details and nomination lodgement arrangements will be published once confirmed by WAEC.

Candidate information and support

Details of candidate information sessions and other support opportunities will be published as they are confirmed.

Candidates should also familiarise themselves with the requirements relating to:

  • authorisation of election campaign material

  • electoral gifts and donations

  • candidate conduct

  • disclosure obligations; and

  • the appointment of scrutineers.

Visit the WAEC Local Government Candidates page for candidate guides, forms and further information.

Contact us

For general election enquiries, contact the Shire of Carnarvon on (08) 9941 0000 or shire@carnarvon.wa.gov.au.

The Returning Officer’s contact details will be published once appointed by the Western Australian Electoral Commission.