Almost one in four of Geraldton’s eligible residents have now voted in the local council election

Almost a quarter of Greater Geraldton’s eligible voters have now cast their ballot in the October 18 council election.

Polls close in seven days, and 24.83 per cent, or 7415 of Greater Geraldton’s 29,865 eligible residents, had already voted as of Thursday.

According to the WA Electoral Commission, 943 Geraldton votes have been received since Monday and, when compared with Albany — the closest regional centre population-wise, with just 467 more registered voters — the Great Southern city’s 30,332 residents have returned 27.26 per cent of voter packs.

Greater Geraldton, however, is well ahead of Perth metro council Kwinana’s 32,117 residents’ 19.97 per cent participation rate to date.

In the 2023 mayoral election, 33.4 per cent of eligible voters had their say, while in 2021 the turnout was 27.7 per cent.

Completed packages must be received by 6pm on election day. For postal votes to be received in time, they must be in the post before Monday, October 13.

If people haven’t received their voting packs or would prefer to hand-deliver their ballot, they can head to the City of Greater Geraldton’s administration building on Cathedral Avenue until 6pm on October 18, or the Mullewa District Office on the corner of Thomas and Padbury streets until 5pm on Friday, October 17.

Four seats are up for grabs this election on the Greater Geraldton council, with 13 candidates nominated. After the election, the number of members on the council will be reduced from 11 to nine, including the mayor.