VICTORIA 2024 LOCAL COUNCIL ELECTIONS GUIDE
ABOUT ELECTIONS WHEN IS THE NEXT LOCAL COUNCIL ELECTIONS?
• Local council elections will be held in Victoria by post this October for all councils except Moira Shire Council.
• The roll closed at 4 pm on Wednesday 7 August. It is too late to enrol or update your enrolment for these elections.
• Your vote matters. Local council elections are your chance to choose who you want to represent your community on the issues that you care about.
Do I have to vote?
• You must vote in your local council election if you are enrolled to vote.
• You do not need to vote if your local council is Moira Shire Council.
• If you get a ballot pack and do not vote, you will be sent a letter.
• You will be asked why you did not vote.
• You may have to pay a fine.
Information for carers
The guide for families, carers and supporters of people with a cognitive impairment due to disabilities or age-related illnesses is full of tips and advice for helping someone you care for to enrol and vote in an election.
How voting works
Local council elections are held by post. all voters will recieve ballot packs so you can complete your vote and post it back before the voting deadline. You can also hand deliver it to the election office in your council area.
What happens at a voting centre
When you vote at a voting centre, you will be asked:
• your name and address
• if you have already voted in the election.
It will also:
• confirm your electorate
• mark your name on the roll to record you have voted
• give you your ballot paper(s).
You will then be directed to a voting compartment so you can fill in your ballot paper(s) privately. You must then place your completed ballot paper(s) in the ballot box.
ABOUT ELECTIONS
LOCAL COUNCIL ELECTIONS
Local councils make decisions about local issues, for example:
• sporting facilities and recreation reserves
• libraries and community centres
• animal registrations
• rubbish and recycling collection.
Who you elect
In a local council election, you are voting for people to become councillors.
Depending on your council, you may be voting for:
• several people from the whole council area to represent you (an unsubdivided council)
• several people from the council area to represent your section of the community (multi-councillor wards) or
• one person from the council area to represent your section of the community (single councillor wards).
Check the structure of your council.
After all the councillors have been elected, they decide who will act as mayor (except in Melbourne City Council).
Melbourne City Council
In Melbourne City Council elections, you elect:
• the lord mayor and deputy lord mayor (also known as the leadership team)
• 9 councillors.
ENROL TO VOTE HELP IN YOUR LANGUAGE
For every major election we translate information on how to enrol, find your candidates and vote into 20 languages, including Auslan.
Some of our election staff can speak other languages as well as English. At a voting centre, they’ll be wearing a sticker to let you know which languages they speak.
Find election information in your language.
https://www.vec.vic.gov.au/information-in-your-language
You can also talk to us in any language by phoning 03 9209 0112 during business hours.
AWAY DURING THE ELECTION
You can ask us to send a replacement ballot pack to a new address (including interstate and overseas addresses) if:
• you will be away when ballot packs are mailed (from Monday 7 October)
• your address has changed since the roll closed (Wednesday 7 August).
If you have moved within or out of your council area after the roll closed, you must vote for your old address. If you fail to vote, you risk a fine.
Applications open on Tuesday 15 October.
Ballot pack replacement Vote in person
If you’ll be away from your enrolled address with no access to mail, you can vote in person at your local election office.
For the Melbourne City Council election, you can vote in person at the election office after 3 pm on Thursday 19 September (following the ballot draw) then from 9 am on weekdays until Friday 25 October, excluding public holidays.
For all other councils, you can vote in person at the election office for that council. In person voting is open weekdays from 10 am, Wednesday 18 September to Friday 25 October, excluding public holidays.
The election office is a temporary office set up in your council area for the election. You can vote or drop off your ballot pack at the relevant election office, but not your local council’s offices.
Find your local election office and opening hours on the election venue locator.
If you’re going to be away from your enrolled address between Monday 7 October and Friday 25 October, you may still be able to vote in your local council’s election.
YOUR LOCAL COUNCIL
• Your vote helps to decide who is in charge.
• Every Australian citizen aged 18 years or older must enrol and vote.
• You must vote at every Federal, State and local council election.
• If you do not vote you may have to pay a fine.
Your local council
• Victoria has 79 local councils. Your local council depends on where you live.
• For local council elections you vote for people who make decisions about your local area.
• These people are called councillors.
• The leader of the council is called the mayor.
What councillors do?
Your councillors make decisions about:
• parks and sporting grounds
• community services
• libraries
• roads and footpaths
• rubbish and recycling
• public buildings and halls
• dog and cat registration
• building and construction.
When is my local council election?
• Local council elections are held every 4 years.
• Ballot packs are mailed out in October.
• Contact the VEC if you do not get your ballot
• pack by Tuesday 15 October.
HOW DO I VOTE?
YOU WILL GET A BALLOT PACK IN THE MAIL.
POSTAL VOTING
My ballot pack
Your ballot pack has:
• a ballot paper
• a ballot paper envelope
• instructions about how to vote
• information about the candidates (these are called candidate statements).
• a reply paid envelope to mail your ballot paper back. Phone the VEC if you do not get your ballot pack by Tuesday 15 October.
How do I fill in my ballot paper?
This is an example of a ballot paper.
You must write a number in each box on the ballot paper
• write 1 in the box next to the person you most want to win
• write 2 in the box next to your second choice
• keep numbering until every box has a number
• use numbers only.
Source: The State of Victoria (Victorian Electoral Commission)
Step 1. Put number 1 on Team Kouta box below and number every box after to make your vote valid
Step 2. To vote for TEAM KOUTA for Lord Mayor and Deputy Lord Mayor, follow the preferences below.
Step 1. To vote for TEAM KOUTA for councillor, follow the preferences below.
Step 2. Number every box to make
• fill in your ballot paper
HOW TO VOTE
• put your finished ballot paper in the ballot paper envelope
• complete your details on the back, write your date of birth, sign and date it
• put your ballot paper envelope in the bigger addressed reply-paid envelope
• you do not need a stamp
• put it in the post as soon as you can
• Your vote must be in the mail or hand delivered to your local election office by 6 pm on Friday 25 October.
CANDIDATES
People who want to be on the local council are called candidates. Each person has different ideas. You need to pick the person or people who you think will do the best job. Each candidate writes to voters about their ideas.
• You will get candidate statements in your ballot pack. or
• You can phone the candidate and talk to them.
This information will help you make a choice. Contact details for candidates are on the VEC website.
With pride and responsibility, I am running as your Greens-endorsed candidate for North Central Ward. I will work tirelessly to make Darebin more representative, equitable, and safe.
My family and I have called Reservoir home for 17 years and love living in our diverse community.
As a devoted father, experienced engineer and committed human rights activist, I believe Council must address the big issues through local action. If elected, my priorities are to:
Tackle cost of living and prioritise people over profit by funding local services and advocating for affordable housing.
Build a new sustainable Reservoir Leisure Centre.
Enhance community pride and safety by eliminating traffic hotspots, discouraging hoon-driving, tackling rubbish dumping and making our parks and streets safer.
Improve Council procurement policies to ensure service providers align with our values and are not involved in human rights breaches, including the genocide in Gaza.
Lead local climate action by supporting programs like solar bulk-buying, building a neighbourhood battery, and improving public transport in collaboration with state government.
With my engineering qualifications and passion for human rights, I will bring new knowledge to council. greens.org.au/vic
Darebin City Council Elections postal ballot between 7th and 25th October.
greens.org.au/mohammad-helmy
mohammad.helmy@vic.greens.org.au
CHECK
THE MEANINGS OF WORDS
Ballot paper envelope: an envelope where you put your filled-in ballot paper. You sign your name and write the date on this flap.
• Ballot pack: a set of papers, envelopes and instructions to use for postal voting.
• Ballot paper: a sheet of paper you write your vote on.
• Candidate: a person who wants to be a councillor.
• Candidate statements: information about each candidate in your ballot pack.
• Councillors: a group of people chosen by the people in the local area to make decisions about this area.
• Enrol: put your name on a list to vote.
• Local council: your local area and the people who make decisions about it.
• Mayor: the leader of councillors.
• Rates: money you pay to your local council. Your council uses this money for roads, public buildings and community services.
• Postal vote: voting at home and sending your vote in the mail. All local councils use postal voting. Use the ballot pack you get in the mail.
• Vote or voting: to make your choice on your ballot paper.
• VoterAlert: free SMS or email service for voting reminders if you are on the State roll.
Vote 1 for Merri-bek Council Election SUE BOLTON
Saved council’s aged care service
Taken up pedestrian safety
Campaigned to fix Upfield Train Line
Opposed Islamophobia
Won first successful pro-Palestine motion
Source: The State of Victoria (Victorian Electoral Commission)
More information
You can get more information from the Victorian Electoral Commission.
Website vec.vic.gov.au
Email info@vec.vic.gov.au
Postal address
Victorian Electoral Commission, Level 11, 530 Collins Street, Melbourne 3000
Phone 131 832 + 61 3 8620 1100 (from outside Victoria)
If you are deaf, hard of hearing, and/or have speech impairment phone National Relay Service 133 677 and ask for 03 8620 1100.
For speech-to-speech relay phone 1300 555 727 and ask for 03 8620 1100
Sue Bolton stands up for the community
Authorised by D Holmes, PO box 392, Carlton South Vic 3053
Saved Fawkner outdoor swimming pool
VOTE TEAM KOUTA
