STIRLING councillors have unanimously voted to include background information in an upcoming referendum that will ask residents if they want to elect the mayor.
Currently the City of Stirling councillors vote to elect the Mayor but WA councils can choose one of two ways; voters directly elect the mayor or ward councillors decide.
The idea was originally put forward in March after the City received a 600-signature petition from residents calling for the people to elect the mayor.
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READ NOWA council report said the referendum would contain an information sheet attached to the referendum ballot paper with arguments both for and against the proposed change to ensure an informed decision could be made.
“On May 29 , the City received correspondence from the WA Electoral Commission requesting that arguments, both for and against changing the method of electing the mayor, be prepared and endorsed by council,” the report said.
“The arguments must be balanced in both number and objectivity.
“A report will be presented to council following the election to consider the results of the referendum and for council to decide whether to change the method of electing the mayor.”
In May, residents voiced concerns that the wording of the referendum was “confusing” prompting a different question to be put forward to the WA Electoral Commission.
The referendum will cost ratepayers an estimated extra $20,000 in conjunction with the 2017 Local Government Ordinary Elections.
The result of the referendum will be decided at the ordinary election count held on October 21.
How will October referendum work?
– The referendum will coincide with the October local elections – Residents will receive a ballot paper with their local government voting pack – Electors will be invited to complete both ballots and return them to the City by 6pm on election day – The count commences from approximately 6pm on election night, with the Councillor ballots being counted first and the results declared – The referendum will be counted and a statement of results provided once complete and will coincide with the 2017 Local Government Elections timeline – A report containing the statement of results of ballot for changing the method of electing the Mayor will need to be submitted to Council for their consideration and decision
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