STIRLING ratepayers are being urged to vote in its historic 2019 election, which will be the first time residents can choose the mayor.
The City of Stirling is trying to increase turnout rates from 2017, where it had the highest voter enrolment in WA but one of the lower participation rates at 32 per cent.
City governance manager Jamie Blanchard said it had launched digital advertising to improve the previous low voter turnout for people aged 18 to 34, increased signage, including how to vote signs in areas with multicultural communities, and worked with the local indigenous community to increase engagement.
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The mayor position will now have a four-year term.
Stirling will have an additional council member, with 14 councillors and a mayor, and the latter will not be tied to a ward.
The deputy mayor will still be chosen by councillors and have a two-year term.
Nine positions are to be filled: mayor and one from each of the seven wards except Hamersley, which is filling both councillor positions following the death of former Cr Andrew Guilfoyle earlier this year.
About voting:
Voters will receive ballot papers to select their ward councillor and mayor.
People with multiple voting entitlements, eg live in one ward and own property in another, will receive two postal vote packages but only one will contain a mayoral ballot paper.
The ballot papers will be counted on October 19, with the mayoral count occurring first from 6pm.
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