What is an electoral distribution?
Why do we have electoral distributions?
When are electoral distributions held?
When was the last electoral distribution?
How long does the electoral distribution take to complete?
Who conducts the electoral distribution?
What are the key parameters governing the 2007 Electoral Distribution?
What is the average district enrolment?
What are the steps in the electoral distribution process?
When do the new boundaries take effect?
What happens if a by-election is called before the next State General Election?
How can I find out more about the distribution process?

 

What is an electoral distribution?
An electoral distribution is the drawing of electoral boundaries in line with local changes in elector numbers. The process ensures that no electorate becomes too large or too small.
An electoral distribution is also known as a division of the State.

Why do we have electoral distributions?
We have electoral distributions to ensure that the number of electors in each district is within the acceptable range at each election. It is necessary to draw the boundaries to take account of the rise and fall in elector numbers in each district. In 2007 there will be an electoral distribution due to legislative changes that were passed in May 2005.

When are electoral distributions held?
Electoral distributions now commence as soon as practicable 2 years after polling day following each State general election (previously as soon as practicable 1 year after polling day following two successive State general elections). The 2003 Electoral Distribution was due to commence on 11 February 2002 but was delayed pending the outcome of litigation on 'one vote, one value' legislation. With the High Court finding, in October 2002, that the legislation was not validly passed in the Legislative Council, the 2003 Electoral Distribution was able to commence in February 2003. Following the 2007 Electoral Distribution, the next distribution will be due to commence in early 2011.

When was the last electoral distribution?
The last electoral distribution was completed on 4 August 2003. The final boundaries were published in a special Government Gazette, No. 133, on that date.

How long does the electoral distribution take to complete?
The formal process takes approximately seven months from the time the call for written suggestions is made. The timetable is set-out in legislation once the call for written suggestions is made.

Who conducts the electoral distribution?
Three Electoral Distribution Commissioners are prescribed under the Electoral Act 1907 to conduct the Distribution. They are:

the Chief Justice of Western Australia (Chairman)	- The Hon. Wayne Martin
the Electoral Commissioner	- Mr Warwick Gately AM
the Government Statistician	- Mr Michael Tindall

The Western Australian Electoral Commission provides administrative support to the Commissioners.

What are the key parameters governing the 2007 Electoral Distribution?
Part IIA of the Electoral Act 1907 sets out the basis for this electoral distribution.
Section 16G provides the basis for the division of the State into districts -

(1) For the purposes of this section the Commissioners shall divide the number of electors by the number of districts, and the result of that division is referred to as the “average district enrolment”.

(2) The Commissioners shall divide the State into districts in accordance with the principle that, for each district, the number of electors that the district would have had at the relevant day must not be more than 10% greater, or more than 10% less, than the average district enrolment at the relevant day.

(3) If a district has an area of 100 000 square kilometres or more, subsection (2) does not apply but the sum of —

(a) the number of electors that the district would have had at the relevant day; and

(b) the large district allowance, must not be more than 10% greater, or more than 20% less, than the average district enrolment at the relevant day.

(4) In subsection (3) —

“large district allowance” means 1.5% of the number of square kilometres in the area of the district.

Section 16H provides the basis for the division of the State into regions:

(1) The Commissioners shall divide the State into regions so that those regions generally reflect the recognised communities of interest and land use patterns in the State and so that

(a) 3 contiguous regions, to be known, respectively, as the North Metropolitan Region (being a region that is generally to the north of the Swan River), the South Metropolitan Region (being a region that is generally to the south of the Swan River) and the East Metropolitan Region (being a region that includes the hills and foothills of the Darling Escarpment) —

(i) each consist of approximately the same number of complete and contiguous districts; and

(ii) together form an area that is generally coextensive with the metropolitan area of Perth;

(b) one region, to be known as the Mining and Pastoral Region, consists of complete and contiguous districts that together form an area that is remote from Perth and in which the land use is primarily for mining and pastoral purposes;

(c) one region, to be known as the Agricultural Region, consists of complete and contiguous districts that together form an area that is generally south, or south and west, of and adjacent to the Mining and Pastoral Region and in which the land use is primarily for agricultural purposes; and

(d) one region, to be known as the South West Region (being a region that includes coastal and forest areas in the south-west of the State), consists of complete and contiguous districts.

(2) In subsection (1) —

“metropolitan area of Perth” means the part of the State that comprises —

(a) the region that was, as at the relevant day, described in the Third Schedule to the Metropolitan Region Town Planning Scheme Act 1959; and

(b) Rottnest Island.

What is the average district enrolment?
A snapshot of the electoral roll is taken at a particular point in time to form a basis for the number of people to include in each district. This is known as the average district enrolment for the purposes of the distribution. It does not affect anybody's enrolment or their entitlement to vote in State elections. The average district enrolment for the 2007 Electoral Distribution will be determined on 26 February 2007, pursuant to section 16G(1) of the Electoral Act 1907.

What are the steps in the electoral distribution process?
Part IIA of the Electoral Act 1907 defines the conduct of the electoral distribution after the determination of the average district enrolment. It is a 5-step process.

STEP 1    is the publication of an invitation to lodge written suggestions within a 30-day 
                 period, after which these suggestions are made available for viewing.

STEP 2    is a 14-day period during which written comments on these suggestions may be 
                 made.

STEP 3    is a 42-day period during which the Electoral Distribution Commissioners 
                 prepare and publish the proposed boundaries.

STEP 4    is a 30-day period during which written objections to the proposed boundaries
                 may be lodged.

STEP 5    is a 90-day period during which the Electoral Distribution Commissioners
                 consider objections and publish the final distribution in the Government Gazette.

When do the new boundaries take effect?
The new boundaries take effect at the next State general election, due in 2009.

What happens if a by-election is called before the next State general election?
The boundaries created during the 2003 Electoral Distribution apply to any by-elections that may occur before the next State general election, due in early 2009. A by-election will only elect a candidate to fulfil the remainder of the current term of office. At the next State general election all districts and regions will be contested on the boundaries as determined at the 2007 Electoral Distribution.

How can I find out more about the distribution process?
Contact the Office of the Electoral Distribution Commissioners or view Part IIA of the Electoral Act 1907.