Making written suggestions, written comments or written objections

Who may make a written submission?
How can I take part in the electoral distribution process?
What should I consider in my submission?
What resources are available to assist me if I want to make a written submission?
How do I make a submission?
What will happen to my submission?

Who may make a written submission?
Anybody, including an individual, group or organisation may make a written submission.

How can I take part in the electoral distribution process?
There are three opportunities to contribute.

1. In the first stage of the process the public is given 30 days to lodge written suggestions.
2. The written suggestions are then made available for public perusal. The public has 14 days to make written comments on these suggestions.
3. When the Electoral Distribution Commissioners publish the proposed boundaries the public has 30 days to lodge written objections.

What should I consider in my submission?
A submission may contain suggestions as to the placement of district and region boundaries. Suggestions may also include the name to be given to a district. Region names are prescribed within the legislation and cannot be altered.

The Electoral Act 1907 provides the basis for the conduct of an electoral distribution and outlines the constraints under which the Electoral Distribution Commissioners will operate when conducting the 2007 Electoral Distribution.

In particular:

• you should have regard for the average district enrolment for the State, provided in section 16G of the Act, as this will determine the minimum and maximum number of electors permitted in each electoral district that you propose.

• you should take into account the potential impact of the 'large district allowance'. If a district has an area of 100,000 square kilometres or more, the sum of the number of electors that the district would have had on the relevant day and 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. The 'large district allowance' means 1.5% of the number of square kilometres in the area of the district (or 1,500 notional electors for each 100,000 square kilometres in the area of a district).

• you should give consideration to the following matters, pursuant to section 16I of the Electoral Act 1907:

  • community of interest
  • land use patterns
  • means of communication and distance from the capital
  • physical features
  • existing boundaries of regions and districts
  • existing local government boundaries
  • the trend of demographic changes

Your submission should refer to the criteria for the electoral distribution, listed above, and electoral enrolment figures either displayed on the website or available for download to support any arguments that you have for changes.

If you are able to demonstrate a level of community support for your proposal, this could also assist the Electoral Distribution Commissioners in their decision-making processes.

What resources are available to assist me if I want to make a written submission?
This website will play a significant role in the provision of information about the electoral distribution. Information will be updated regularly. Our objective will be to have information available on the Internet at the same time as it is available elsewhere. The content of this site will include:

• a downloadable version of the Information Kit
• a range of enrolment statistical information at the date of the close of roll for the electoral distribution and some educational material to assist in the preparation of written submissions
• media releases
• copies of advertisements placed in the newspaper
• a timetable of events
• written proposals received by the Electoral Distribution Commissioners
• the 2003 Electoral Distribution (the current boundaries)
• the 1994 Electoral Distribution
• the latest enrolment statistics

How do I make a submission?
If you wish to make suggestions about proposed electoral boundaries, comments on written suggestions about the proposed electoral boundaries or object to the proposed boundaries determined by the Electoral Distribution Commissioners, you may write to:

Secretary to the Electoral Distribution Commissioners
Level 11, 111 St George's Terrace
PERTH WA 6000

Postal Address:
GPO Box F316
PERTH WA 6841

Written suggestions, comments and objections need to effectively argue the point being made and therefore should include reasons in support of the submission. Where possible, you should provide an alternative option for the Electoral Distribution Commissioners to consider.

Preferably, submissions should be made on single-sided A4 paper (typed) for ease of distribution and storage and should not be bound. Provision of an electronic version on CD or DVD would also be appreciated with longer submissions. The preferred electronic formats are Microsoft Word and Adobe Acrobat (PDF, portable document format). We encourage you to provide an electronic version so that we can keep file sizes on the web site to a minimum. If we have to scan documents the file sizes displayed on the web site will be much larger.

It is important that you provide contact details in your submission, including your full name, postal address, daytime telephone number, mobile telephone number, email address and fax number. This will enable us to acknowledge your submission and contact you if we require further information.

What will happen to my submission?
The Electoral Distribution Commissioners will consider your submission according to the criteria provided in Part IIA of the Electoral Act 1907. The Commissioners may then contact you to seek further information about your proposal.

Written suggestions become public documents when lodged. Copies of written suggestions will be available for viewing at the Office of the Electoral Distribution Commissioners and made available electronically on this website.