1908 Western Australian state election

Elections were held in the Australian state of Western Australia in late 1908 to elect 50 members to the state's Legislative Assembly. The main polling day was 11 September, although five remote electorates went to the polls at later dates.

1908 Western Australian state election

11 September – 23 October 1908
All 50 seats in the Western Australian Legislative Assembly
First party Second party   Leader Newton Moore Thomas Bath Party Ministerialist Labour Leader since 7 May 1906 22 November 1905 Leader's seat Bunbury Brown Hill Last election 33 seats 14 seats Seats won 28 seats 22 seats Seat change 5 8 Percentage 61.62% 37.80% Swing 7.78 2.73
Premier before election Newton Moore Ministerialist Elected Premier Newton Moore Ministerialist

The governing Ministerialists (led by the premier, Newton Moore) lost five seats, but retained a majority government. The Labour Party, led by Thomas Bath, gained eight seats for a total of 22, equalling their record set at the 1904 election. For the first time, no independents were elected.

Key dates

• Issue of writs: Wednesday 26 August
• Close of nominations: Thursday 3 September
• Main polling day: Friday 11 September
  • Return of writs: Saturday 19 September
• Polling day for Roebourne: Wednesday 30 September
  • Return of writs: Saturday 10 October
• Polling day for Gascoyne: Thursday 1 October
  • Return of writs: Thursday 15 October
• Polling day for Dundas and Pilbara: Friday 16 October
  • Return of writs: Friday 23 October
• Polling day for Kimberley: Friday 23 October
  • Return of writs: Saturday 31 October

Electoral system

Members were elected through instant-runoff voting, which at the time was called alternative voting.

Results

Main article: Results of the Western Australian state election, 1908

Western Australian state election, 1908 Legislative Assembly
Enrolled voters		135,979[1]
Votes cast		75,855		Turnout	66.49%	+14.63
Informal votes		926		Informal	1.22%	+0.21
Summary of votes by party
Party		Primary votes	%	Swing	Seats	Change
	Ministerialist	46,169	61.62%	+7.78	28	–5
	Labour	28,325	37.80%	+2.73	22	+8
	Independent Labour	435	0.58%	–3.55	0	–1
Total		74,929			50

See also

• Members of the Western Australian Legislative Assembly, 1905–1908
• Members of the Western Australian Legislative Assembly, 1908–1911

Notes

¹ The total number of enrolled voters was 135,979, of whom 21,898 were registered in nine uncontested seats. Four of the uncontested seats were won by Ministerialists and five by Labour.