Lyla Lindsey
Western Australia has 15 federal seats in the Australian House of Representatives, which are also referred to as electorates or electoral divisions. These divisions are single-member electoral districts for the lower house of the Parliament of the Commonwealth. The number of federal seats in each state is based on the number of enrolled voters, and electoral boundaries are redrawn at least once every seven years or when the state's entitlement to House of Representatives members changes.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of federal seats in Western Australia | Unable to find exact number |
| Total number of electorates in the Australian House of Representatives | 150 |
| Frequency of redistribution of seats | At least once every 7 years |
| Basis of redistribution within a state | Number of enrolled voters, electoral boundaries |
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What You'll Learn
Western Australia's federal seats are determined by population
To ensure fair representation, electoral boundaries are redrawn periodically, usually at least once every seven years, or when a state's entitlement to House of Representatives members changes. This process is carried out by a Redistribution Committee, and it is based on the number of enrolled voters rather than the total population. The number of enrolled voters in each division must not vary by more than 10% from the state average. Additionally, the number of voters cannot fluctuate by more than 3.5% from the projected enrolment 3.5 years in the future.
As a result of these calculations, some federal electoral divisions, like Cowper in New South Wales, contain up to 80% more electors than smaller divisions like Solomon in the Northern Territory. This variation is due to the Redistribution Committee's efforts to balance the number of enrolled voters across divisions while adhering to the population-based allocation of seats.
While I can provide information on how federal seats are determined in Western Australia, I cannot provide the exact number of federal seats in the state without additional context or a specific date for which the information is required. The number of seats can change over time due to periodic redistributions and fluctuations in population and voter enrolment.
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The Western Australian Electoral Commission manages enrolments
The Western Australian Electoral Commission (WAEC) is responsible for managing enrolments for state and local government elections in Western Australia. The WAEC works in collaboration with the Australian Electoral Commission (AEC) to simplify the enrolment process for Western Australians.
To enrol, individuals must be Australian citizens or British subjects who were on the roll between 26 October 1983 and 25 January 1984. They must also have resided at their current address for a minimum of one month. Provisional enrolment is available for 16-year-olds, ensuring they are automatically placed on the roll when they turn 18. Enrolled electors are then qualified to vote in Commonwealth, state, and local government elections.
The AEC, which only runs federal events, provides support for individuals with specific circumstances that may impact their enrolment. This includes silent electors, travellers, and those without a fixed address. The AEC also assists electors who are overseas or planning to travel, helping them enrol and cast their votes in federal elections, by-elections, referendums, and other elections.
To enrol, individuals must provide identification to confirm their identity. In the absence of the specified forms of identification, a witness who is an enrolled elector can confirm the person's identity. Electors with physical incapacities that prevent them from signing their name are also accommodated. Eligible electors can opt to become general postal voters, receiving postal voting packages automatically for future elections.
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Federal seats are also called electoral divisions or electorates
In Australia, federal seats are also called electoral divisions or electorates. These are single-member electoral districts for the lower house of the Parliament of the Commonwealth. There are currently 150 electorates, though this number is not fixed and can vary with boundary changes resulting from electoral redistributions, which are required regularly. The Constitution of Australia specifies that the number of members of the Australian House of Representatives should be "as nearly as practicable" twice the number of members of the Australian Senate.
Electoral divisions are apportioned among the states in proportion to their respective populations. Each original state is required to have at least five members in the House of Representatives, which has given Tasmania higher representation than its population would otherwise justify. There are three electorates in the Australian Capital Territory, and while the Northern Territory should have only one electorate based on its population, it has been legislated to receive two.
Electoral boundaries are redrawn from time to time, at least once every seven years, or when a state's entitlement to the number of members of the House of Representatives changes. These boundaries are drawn by a Redistribution Committee, with redistributions within a state based on the number of enrolled voters, rather than the total population. The number of enrolled voters in each division cannot vary by more than 10% from the average across a state or territory.
The divisions of the House of Representatives are unusual in that they are not typically named after geographical features or numbered. Instead, most divisions are named in honour of prominent historical figures, such as former politicians, explorers, artists, and engineers.
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Boundaries are redrawn periodically, at least every 7 years
In Australia, electoral boundaries are redrawn periodically, at least once every seven years. This process is undertaken to ensure that each state is appropriately represented in the House of Representatives relative to its population. The number of enrolled voters in each division or electorate cannot vary by more than 10% from the state average. Additionally, the number of voters cannot deviate by more than 3.5% from the projected enrolment average 3.5 years in the future. This process is necessary as new streets and localities are frequently created by councils, which can alter existing electoral boundaries.
The Redistribution Committee is responsible for redrawing the boundaries within each state and territory. This committee operates based on the number of enrolled voters, rather than the total population of a division. This approach ensures that each division has a relatively equal number of voters, allowing for fairer representation.
The process of redrawing electoral boundaries is known as redistribution. The most recent redistribution occurred in 2021 and was utilised in the 2022 federal election. Redistribution is triggered by two factors: the passage of time (a minimum of seven years) or changes in a state's entitlement to members of the House of Representatives.
The size of an electoral division can vary significantly due to the redrawing of boundaries. For instance, Cowper in New South Wales has 80% more electors than Solomon in the Northern Territory. These disparities can occur due to differences in population density and the distribution of voters across a state or territory.
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The number of federal seats varies across states
The number of federal seats in Western Australia is 15. However, the number of federal seats varies across states in Australia. The Constitution of Australia of 1900 established the House of Representatives in a newly federated Australia. The House is presided over by the speaker and currently consists of 150 members, elected by and representing single-member districts known as electoral divisions (commonly referred to as "electorates" or "seats"). The number of members is not fixed and can vary with boundary changes resulting from electoral redistributions, which are required regularly. The Constitution specifies that the total number of members of the Australian House of Representatives shall be "as nearly as practicable" twice the number of members of the Australian Senate. The electorates are apportioned among the states in proportion to their respective populations, provided that each original state has at least five members in the House of Representatives. This provision has given Tasmania higher representation than its population would otherwise justify.
The Redistribution Committee is responsible for drawing the boundaries within each state and territory, and redistributions are based on the number of enrolled voters rather than the total population. The number of enrolled voters in each division cannot vary by more than 10% from the state or territory average. As a result, larger seats like Cowper in New South Wales contain 80% more electors than smaller seats like Solomon in the Northern Territory. The territories' seat requirements are set by legislation, with the Australian Capital Territory and the Northern Territory currently requiring at least one member each.
The number of federal seats in each state can also be affected by the abolition or creation of seats. For example, in 2018, seats in Victoria, Tasmania, and South Australia were abolished and replaced with seats in similar locations but with different names. At the 2022 Australian federal election, based on the 2021 apportionment, there were 151 divisions: 47 in New South Wales, 39 in Victoria, 30 in Queensland, 15 in Western Australia, 10 in South Australia, 5 in Tasmania, 3 in the ACT, and 2 in the Northern Territory.
The House of Representatives chamber is designed to accommodate up to 240 members, with the current seating arrangement in a horse-shoe shape, a hybrid of oppositional arrangements seen in other legislatures. The varying number of federal seats across states in Australia ensures that the electorates are proportionally represented in the House of Representatives, taking into account the population and the number of enrolled voters in each state and territory.
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Frequently asked questions
There are currently 150 federal seats in total in the Australian House of Representatives, with the number of seats apportioned among the states in proportion to their respective populations.
You can find your federal seat or electoral division in Western Australia by checking your enrolment details with the Western Australian Electoral Commission.
Federal seat boundaries are redrawn at least once every 7 years or when a state's entitlement to the number of members of the House of Representatives changes.
