title: Electoral results for the district of Merredin
text: # Electoral results for the district of Merredin
  
  This is a list of electoral results for the Electoral district of Merredin in Western Australian state elections.
  
  ## Members for Merredin
  
  Merredin-Yilgarn (1950–1977) :
  
  | Member | Member | Party | Term |
  | - | - | - | - |
  | | Lionel Kelly | Labor | 1950–1968 |
  | | Jack Stewart | Liberal | 1968–1971 |
  | | James Brown | Labor | 1971–1974 |
  | | Hendy Cowan | Country | 1974–1977 |
  | Merredin (1977–2008) ||||
  | Member | Member | Party | Term |
  | | Hendy Cowan | National | 1977–2001 |
  | | Brendon Grylls | National | 2001–2008 |
  
  ## Election results
  
  ### Elections in the 2000s
  
  2005 Western Australian state election: Merredin :
  
  | Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
  | - | - | - | - | - | - |
  | | National | Brendon Grylls | 5,974 | 49.3 | -1.6 |
  | | Liberal | Jamie Falls | 3,224 | 26.6 | +20.8 |
  | | Labor | Stephen Fewster | 1,491 | 12.3 | -3.4 |
  | | New Country | Julie Townrow | 575 | 4.7 | +4.7 |
  | | Greens | Robert Mann | 298 | 2.5 | -0.7 |
  | | One Nation | Peter Arnold | 274 | 2.3 | -18.2 |
  | | Christian Democrats | Noel Beckingham | 273 | 2.3 | +2.3 |
  | Total formal votes | Total formal votes | Total formal votes | 12,109 | 96.1 | 0.0 |
  | Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | 490 | 3.9 | 0.0 |
  | Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 12,599 | 91.4 | |
  | Two-party-preferred result ||||||
  | | National | Brendon Grylls | 9,927 | 82.0 | +9.5 |
  | | Labor | Stephen Fewster | 2,173 | 18.0 | -9.5 |
  | Two-candidate-preferred result ||||||
  | | National | Brendon Grylls | 7,890 | 65.5 | -7.0 |
  | | Liberal | Jamie Falls | 4,162 | 34.5 | +34.5 |
  | | National hold | National hold | Swing | -7.0 | |
  
  2001 Merredin state by-election :
  
  | Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
  | - | - | - | - | - | - |
  | | National | Brendon Grylls | 4,551 | 43.1 | -13.3 |
  | | Liberal | Joanne Burges | 3,673 | 34.8 | +34.8 |
  | | One Nation | Jamie Falls | 1,197 | 11.3 | -9.0 |
  | | Labor | Darren West | 949 | 9.0 | -6.7 |
  | | Democrats | Jason Meotti | 194 | 1.8 | +1.8 |
  | Total formal votes | Total formal votes | Total formal votes | 10,564 | 98.3 | +2.1 |
  | Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | 180 | 1.7 | -2.1 |
  | Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 10,744 | 86.3 | |
  | Two-candidate-preferred result ||||||
  | | National | Brendon Grylls | 5,974 | 56.6 | -13.7 |
  | | Liberal | Joanne Burges | 4,581 | 43.4 | +43.4 |
  | | National hold | National hold | Swing | N/A | |
  
  2001 Western Australian state election: Merredin :
  
  | Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
  | - | - | - | - | - | - |
  | | National | Hendy Cowan | 6,339 | 56.4 | -24.8 |
  | | One Nation | John McKay | 2,283 | 20.3 | +20.3 |
  | | Labor | Sharon Ivey | 1,761 | 15.7 | -3.1 |
  | | Greens | Robert Jeffreys | 341 | 3.0 | +3.0 |
  | | Independent | Don Cowan | 307 | 2.7 | +2.7 |
  | | Curtin Labor Alliance | Callum Payne | 204 | 1.8 | +1.8 |
  | Total formal votes | Total formal votes | Total formal votes | 11,235 | 96.2 | -1.4 |
  | Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | 443 | 3.8 | +1.4 |
  | Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 11,678 | 92.2 | |
  | Two-party-preferred result ||||||
  | | National | Hendy Cowan | 8,074 | 72.9 | -8.3 |
  | | Labor | Sharon Ivey | 3,005 | 27.1 | +8.3 |
  | Two-candidate-preferred result ||||||
  | | National | Hendy Cowan | 7,872 | 70.3 | -10.9 |
  | | One Nation | John McKay | 3,326 | 29.7 | +29.7 |
  | | National hold | National hold | Swing | -10.9 | |
  
  ### Elections in the 1990s
  
  1996 Western Australian state election: Merredin :
  
  | Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
  | - | - | - | - | - | - |
  | | National | Hendy Cowan | 9,488 | 81.2 | +30.9 |
  | | Labor | Mick Cole | 2,203 | 18.8 | +3.7 |
  | Total formal votes | Total formal votes | Total formal votes | 11,691 | 97.6 | +0.4 |
  | Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | 282 | 2.4 | -0.4 |
  | Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 11,973 | 91.8 | |
  | | National hold | National hold | Swing | +1.1 | |
  
  1993 Western Australian state election: Merredin :
  
  | Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
  | - | - | - | - | - | - |
  | | National | Hendy Cowan | 5,576 | 53.8 | -24.1 |
  | | Liberal | Jos Chatfield | 3,220 | 31.1 | +31.1 |
  | | Labor | Susanne Chance | 1,569 | 15.1 | -2.9 |
  | Total formal votes | Total formal votes | Total formal votes | 10,365 | 97.3 | +1.7 |
  | Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | 289 | 2.7 | +1.7 |
  | Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 10,654 | 95.1 | +2.3 |
  | Two-candidate-preferred result ||||||
  | | National | Hendy Cowan | 6,796 | 65.6 | -15.6 |
  | | Liberal | Jos Chatfield | 3,569 | 34.4 | +34.4 |
  | | National hold | National hold | Swing | -15.6 | |
  
  ### Elections in the 1980s
  
  1989 Western Australian state election: Merredin :
  
  | Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
  | - | - | - | - | - | - |
  | | National | Hendy Cowan | 8,154 | 78.0 | +20.5 |
  | | Labor | Michael Fitzpatrick | 1,887 | 18.0 | +0.6 |
  | | Independent | Margaret Buegge | 420 | 4.0 | +4.0 |
  | Total formal votes | Total formal votes | Total formal votes | 10,461 | 95.6 | |
  | Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | 486 | 4.4 | |
  | Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 10,947 | 92.8 | |
  | Two-party-preferred result ||||||
  | | National | Hendy Cowan | 8,495 | 81.2 | +8.9 |
  | | Labor | Michael Fitzpatrick | 1,966 | 18.8 | +18.8 |
  | | National hold | National hold | Swing | N/A | |
  
  1986 Western Australian state election: Merredin :
  
  | Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
  | - | - | - | - | - | - |
  | | National | Hendy Cowan | 5,490 | 64.7 | +4.0 |
  | | Labor | Salvatore Musca | 1,651 | 19.4 | +19.4 |
  | | Liberal | Bruce Harvey | 1,351 | 15.9 | +2.6 |
  | Total formal votes | Total formal votes | Total formal votes | 8,492 | 98.4 | +1.3 |
  | Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | 136 | 1.6 | -1.3 |
  | Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 8,628 | 95.1 | +4.6 |
  | Two-party-preferred result ||||||
  | | National | Hendy Cowan | 6,709 | 79.0 | +14.0 |
  | | Labor | Salvatore Musca | 1,783 | 21.0 | +21.0 |
  | | National hold | National hold | Swing | +14.0 | |
  
  1983 Western Australian state election: Merredin :
  
  | Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
  | - | - | - | - | - |
  | | National | Hendy Cowan | 4,872 | 60.7 |
  | | National Country | Harold Lang | 1,804 | 22.5 |
  | | Liberal | Richard Cooper | 1,067 | 13.3 |
  | | Independent | Zoran Panzich | 283 | 3.5 |
  | Total formal votes | Total formal votes | Total formal votes | 8,026 | 97.1 |
  | Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | 242 | 2.9 |
  | Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 8,268 | 90.5 |
  | Two-candidate-preferred result ||||||
  | | National | Hendy Cowan | 5,217 | 65.0 |
  | | National Country | Harold Lang | 2,809 | 35.0 |
  | | National hold | National hold | Swing | |
  
  1980 Western Australian state election: Merredin :
  
  | Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
  | - | - | - | - | - | - |
  | | National | Hendy Cowan | 5,111 | 70.6 | +70.6 |
  | | Liberal | Norman Oates | 1,070 | 14.8 | -4.7 |
  | | National Country | Edith Towers | 1,061 | 14.7 | -42.3 |
  | Total formal votes | Total formal votes | Total formal votes | 7,242 | 97.3 | -0.4 |
  | Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | 204 | 2.7 | +0.4 |
  | Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 7,446 | 91.6 | -0.9 |
  | Two-candidate-preferred result ||||||
  | | National | Hendy Cowan | 5,323 | 73.5 | +73.5 |
  | | Liberal | Norman Oates | 1,919 | 26.5 | +26.5 |
  | | National gain from National Country | National gain from National Country | Swing | N/A | |
  
  ### Elections in the 1970s
  
  1977 Western Australian state election: Merredin :
  
  | Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
  | - | - | - | - | - | - |
  | | National Country | Hendy Cowan | 4,103 | 56.9 | |
  | | Labor | George Banks | 1,699 | 23.6 | |
  | | Liberal | Garry Hawkes | 1,408 | 19.5 | |
  | Total formal votes | Total formal votes | Total formal votes | 7,210 | 97.7 | |
  | Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | 173 | 2.3 | |
  | Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 7,383 | 92.5 | |
  | Two-party-preferred result ||||||
  | | National Country | Hendy Cowan | 5,370 | 74.5 | +9.5 |
  | | Labor | George Banks | 1,840 | 25.5 | -9.5 |
  | | National Country hold | National Country hold | Swing | +9.5 | |
  
  1974 Western Australian state election: Merredin-Yilgarn :
  
  | Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
  | - | - | - | - | - |
  | | National Alliance | Hendy Cowan | 2,585 | 39.6 |
  | | Labor | James Brown | 2,536 | 38.8 |
  | | Liberal | Brian Cahill | 1,411 | 21.6 |
  | Total formal votes | Total formal votes | Total formal votes | 6,532 | 96.8 |
  | Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | 214 | 3.2 |
  | Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 6,746 | 91.8 |
  | Two-party-preferred result ||||||
  | | National Alliance | Hendy Cowan | 3,782 | 57.9 |
  | | Labor | James Brown | 2,750 | 42.1 |
  | | National Alliance gain from Labor | National Alliance gain from Labor | Swing | |
  
  1971 Western Australian state election: Merredin-Yilgarn :
  
  | Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
  | - | - | - | - | - | - |
  | | Labor | James Brown | 3,021 | 45.4 | +5.5 |
  | | Liberal | Jack Stewart | 1,447 | 21.7 | -4.1 |
  | | Country | Albert Fletcher | 1,054 | 15.8 | -7.9 |
  | | Democratic Labor | Ray Evans | 733 | 11.0 | +11.0 |
  | | Independent | Jeff Legge | 406 | 6.1 | +6.1 |
  | Total formal votes | Total formal votes | Total formal votes | 6,661 | 97.0 | -1.9 |
  | Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | 208 | 3.0 | +1.9 |
  | Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 6,869 | 92.3 | -1.6 |
  | Two-party-preferred result ||||||
  | | Labor | James Brown | 3,510 | 52.7 | +5.6 |
  | | Liberal | Jack Stewart | 3,151 | 47.3 | -5.6 |
  | | Labor gain from Liberal | Labor gain from Liberal | Swing | +5.6 | |
  
  ### Elections in the 1960s
  
  1968 Western Australian state election: Merredin-Yilgarn :
  
  | Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
  | - | - | - | - | - |
  | | Labor | James Brown | 2,260 | 39.9 |
  | | Liberal and Country | Jack Stewart | 1,460 | 25.8 |
  | | Country | Geoffrey Telfer | 1,343 | 23.7 |
  | | Independent | Raymond Evans | 602 | 10.6 |
  | Total formal votes | Total formal votes | Total formal votes | 5,665 | 98.9 |
  | Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | 65 | 1.1 |
  | Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 5,730 | 93.9 |
  | Two-party-preferred result ||||||
  | | Liberal and Country | Jack Stewart | 2,996 | 52.9 |
  | | Labor | James Brown | 2,669 | 47.1 |
  | | Liberal and Country gain from Labor | Liberal and Country gain from Labor | Swing | |
  
  1965 Western Australian state election: Merredin-Yilgarn :
  
  | Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
  | - | - | - | - | - | - |
  | | Labor | Lionel Kelly | 2,276 | 53.4 | -4.7 |
  | | Liberal and Country | Jack Stewart | 1,326 | 31.1 | +31.1 |
  | | Country | Kenneth Jones | 662 | 15.5 | -26.4 |
  | Total formal votes | Total formal votes | Total formal votes | 4,264 | 97.3 | -1.6 |
  | Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | 118 | 2.7 | +1.6 |
  | Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 4,382 | 91.6 | -1.3 |
  | Two-party-preferred result ||||||
  | | Labor | Lionel Kelly | 2,342 | 54.9 | -3.2 |
  | | Liberal and Country | Jack Stewart | 1,922 | 45.1 | +45.1 |
  | | Labor hold | Labor hold | Swing | -3.2 | |
  
  1962 Western Australian state election: Merredin-Yilgarn :
  
  | Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
  | - | - | - | - | - |
  | | Labor | Lionel Kelly | 2,676 | 58.1 |
  | | Country | Squire Fletcher | 1,927 | 41.9 |
  | Total formal votes | Total formal votes | Total formal votes | 4,603 | 98.9 |
  | Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | 51 | 1.1 |
  | Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 4,654 | 90.3 |
  | | Labor hold | Labor hold | Swing | |
  
  ### Elections in the 1950s
  
  1959 Western Australian state election: Merredin-Yilgarn :
  
  | Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
  | - | - | - | - | - | - |
  | | Labor | Lionel Kelly | 3,388 | 72.3 | +14.9 |
  | | Liberal and Country | Ronald Lee | 1,299 | 27.7 | +9.6 |
  | Total formal votes | Total formal votes | Total formal votes | 4,687 | 97.4 | -1.0 |
  | Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | 123 | 2.6 | +1.0 |
  | Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 4,810 | 91.0 | -2.0 |
  | | Labor hold | Labor hold | Swing | +13.1 | |
  
  1956 Western Australian state election: Merredin-Yilgarn :
  
  | Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
  | - | - | - | - | - |
  | | Labor | Lionel Kelly | 2,818 | 57.4 |
  | | Country | Alfred Walker | 1,206 | 24.6 |
  | | Liberal and Country | Robert Loder | 887 | 18.1 |
  | Total formal votes | Total formal votes | Total formal votes | 4,911 | 98.4 |
  | Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | 80 | 1.6 |
  | Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 4,991 | 93.0 |
  | Two-party-preferred result ||||||
  | | Labor | Lionel Kelly | | 59.2 |
  | | Country | Alfred Walker | | 40.8 |
  | | Labor hold | Labor hold | Swing | |
  
  * Two party preferred vote was estimated.
  
  1953 Western Australian state election: Merredin-Yilgarn :
  
  | Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
  | - | - | - | - | - | - |
  | | Labor | Lionel Kelly | unopposed | | |
  | | Labor hold | Labor hold | Swing | | |
  
  1950 New South Wales state election: Merredin-Yilgarn :
  
  | Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
  | - | - | - | - | - |
  | | Labor | Lionel Kelly | 2,053 | 60.1 |
  | | Liberal and Country | Charles Davies | 1,361 | 39.9 |
  | Total formal votes | Total formal votes | Total formal votes | 3,414 | 98.6 |
  | Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | 48 | 1.4 |
  | Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3,462 | 90.4 |
  | | Labor hold | Labor hold | Swing | |
  