COMPLACENT voters are making a mockery of democracy in the suburbs, with just a small fraction having bothered to vote in this year’s council elections.
With just two days until polls close, less than a quarter of ratepayers in Canning have cast their vote in the local government elections.
As of Tuesday, the WA Electoral Commission had received just 13,745 returned votes, from the 53,626 sent out in the City of Canning.
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READ NOWElection officials fear more than 70 per cent of eligible voters will ignore the opportunity to drive the future of their area.
Bannister ward had the best response with 31.72 per cent of ratepayers voting, while Mason ward had just 20.44 per cent.
While some residents put it down to pure forgetfulness, others believe complacency is to blame.
Neil Mercer, of Canning Vale, said he was eager to cast his vote and encouraged his family to do the same, but he knew of some neighbours who simply threw the voting package in the bin.
“Some straight up don’t care, but there are many who do and just don’t vote, and it’s hugely disappointing,” he said.
“They spend all day on their local Facebook chat group complaining about local crime or this and that, but then when they have a chance to make a real difference, they go quiet.”
While these figures could improve before voting closes on October 19 at 6pm, a WA Electoral Commission spokeswoman said most electors voted within the first week of receiving their postal voting packages.
Although voting is largely done by post, electors can hand deliver their package to the City at 1317 Albany Highway during business hours before election day or between 8am and 6pm on election day.
POSTAL VOTES RETURNED as of Tuesday, October 15 Mason Ward – 2257 (20.44%) Bannister Ward – 3535 (31.72%) Beeliar Ward – 2676 (28.34%) Beeloo Ward – 2638 (23.09%) Nicholson Ward – 2639 (24.96%