2025 Local Government Ordinary Election
The 2025 Shire of Ashburton Local Government Ordinary Election conducted by the Western Australian Electoral Commission, by the postal vote method is being held on 21 October 2025.
Structure of the Council
Recent local government reform by the State Government has changed the composition of the Shire of Ashburton Council. From this election eight Councillors and a Shire President will comprise the Council. The Shire Presidents position will now be popularly elected by electors rather than by the historic practice of Council electing the Shire President.
Changes to Wards
Following a statutory review, the number of wards in the district has been reduced from six to five, effective from 1 July 2023. The wards in the district are the:
- Ashburton-Tablelands Ward;
- Onslow Ward;
- Pannawonica Ward;
- Paraburdoo Ward; and the
- Tom Price Ward.
Changes to Voting Process
Another change stemming from the recent reform process are changes to the system of voting at local government elections. The first past the post system of voting has been replaced with the optional preferential voting system, similar to the system of voting at State and Federal elections.
An overview of the new voting system can be viewed at Preferential Voting Video
Vacancies for the 2025 Election
Four Councillor vacancies (for 4 years terms) will be available, with one vacancy in each of the following Wards:
- Ashburton-Tablelands
- Onslow
- Paraburdoo
- Tom Price
There will also be a vacancy for the position of Shire President.