Council elections
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The next Victorian local council elections will be held by postal ballot in October 2024.
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Voters Roll now Closed
4pm on Wednesday 7 August 2024
Nominations Open
Monday 9 September 2024
Close of Nominations
12 noon on Tuesday 17 September 2024
Mailout of Ballot Packs
Monday 7 October to Thursday 10 October 2024
Close of Voting
6pm on Friday 25 October 2024 (postal ballots must be in the mail by this time for your vote to be counted)
Election Day
Saturday 26 October 2024 (no in person voting)
The Election is to be declared by no later than Friday 15 November 2024.
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Who can vote?
In a Victorian local council election there are two types of voters:
- State-enrolled (automatically enrolled to vote in the 2024 Merri-bek City Council elections).
- Council-enrolled (must apply to be enrolled and include owner ratepayers, occupier ratepayers and corporation representatives).
You can only vote once in each municipality, no matter how many properties you own or occupy.
You must have enrolled before the voters roll closed at 4pm on Wednesday 7 August 2024.
Voting is compulsory for everyone who is enrolled.
- State-enrolled voters
If you are on the State electoral roll, you are automatically enrolled to vote in the 2024 council elections for your enrolled address (where you live).
To be eligible to enrol on the State electoral roll you must be:
- 18 years or older
- an Australian citizen
- have lived at your address in the city of Merri-bek for longer than one month.
To check if you are enrolled on the State electoral roll or for more information visit the VEC website.
There is no limit to the number of State-enrolled voters for any one property.
- Council-enrolled voters (ratepayers)
Some ratepayers can apply to become council-enrolled voters in the city of Merri-bek if they are:
- a property owner, occupier or represent a corporation
- 18 years or older on election day (26 October 2024)
- not a State-enrolled voter within the city of Merri-bek.
The rules for council-enrolled voters changed ahead of the 2024 council elections.
These changes are explained below.
2.1 Owner ratepayers
You could have applied to enrol in Merri-bek City Council elections if you:
- own property and pay rates in the city of Merri-bek
- are 18 years or older on election day (26 October 2024)
- are not a State-enrolled voter who lives in the city of Merri-bek.
This includes:
- Australian citizens who own a property in the city of Merri-bek but do not live in the area (for example an investment or a holiday home)
- non-citizens over 18 years who own a property and live in the city of Merri-bek.
- Up to two (2) owner ratepayers can apply to enrol per property, but each person only gets one vote.
2.2 Occupier ratepayers
You could have applied to enrol in Merri-bek City Council elections if you:
- pay rates for a property that you occupy but do not own
- are 18 years or older on election day (26 October 2024)
- are not a State-enrolled voter.
This includes where you operate a business out of a commercial property.
Up to two (2) occupier ratepayers per property can apply to enrol, but each person only gets one vote.
NOTE: Occupier ratepayers must reapply before every general council election.
2.3 Corporations
You could have applied to enrol to vote on behalf of a corporation if you:
- are a director or company secretary of a corporation that pays rates (either as an owner or an occupier) in the city of Merri-bek
- have consented to being appointed as the corporation’s representative
- are not already a State-enrolled voter or council-enrolled voter for the city of Merri-bek.
Only one (1) person can apply to enrol as the corporation’s representative.
NOTE: Corporate representatives must reapply before every general council election.
Other information
Silent Voter - Requests that address not be shown - You must complete a separate application. Please complete the silent voter request form and submit to ratescontact@merri-bek.vic.gov.au.
Voting is compulsory
It is compulsory for every person enrolled to vote at the 2024 local council elections. This requirement then continues for every council election and by-election thereafter and applies whether you are a State-enrolled or council-enrolled voter.
Exemptions to compulsory voting are prescribed in regulation 84 of the Local Government (Electoral) Regulations 2020.
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To check if you are a State-enrolled or council-enrolled voter in the City of Merri-bek, either:
- visit the VEC website; or
- contact us at ratescontact@merri-bek.vic.gov.au.
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The VEC deliver free online voter education sessions about elections to communities including people with a disability, experiencing homelessness, from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander backgrounds, culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds and young people from all communities. Voter education sessions can be delivered in some community languages and the VEC can provide interpreters.
For more information or to book a session, visit the VEC website, e-mail education@vec.vic.gov.au, or call 131 832. For languages other than English call (03) 9209 0112, or via the National Relay Service (03) 8620 1100.
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The Victorian Electoral Commission website and the State Government Local Government Victoria website and this website will be progressively updated in the lead up to the 2024 election.
Information sessions for Prospective Candidates
Councillors elected in the Council election on 26 October 2024 will play a significant role in determining the future of Merri-bek.
If you are passionate about the Merri-bek community and would like to contribute to the city’s future, you may consider running as a candidate.
Resources
The following resources are available to assist you in deciding whether to nominate as a candidate in the Council election:
VEC — Becoming a local council candidate
The City of Merri-bek is committed to encouraging diversity in people nominating for and being elected to Council. Please find the link below to an external resource which may be of assistance:
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All candidates in any council election in Victoria are required to complete the online Local Government Candidate Training. All candidates must also declare to the Victorian Electoral Committee (VEC) when they have completed the training in order to nominate.
The online Candidate Training is available to complete now on the Local Government Victoria website and takes around one hour to complete.
What is candidate training?
The candidate training, introduced in the Local Government Act 2020, has been updated by Local Government Victoria to better equip and prepare candidates who are prospective first-term councillors. The training will help candidates understand the role of a councillor and what it requires before nominating. The training also serves as a refresher for more experienced councillors.
When to complete the training
Candidate nominations for council elections will open on Monday 9 September and close at midday on Tuesday 17 September 2024. It’s a good idea for candidates to complete the training before nominations open. VEC – How to nominate
Is it mandatory?
It is not mandatory for those who have completed Candidate Training in the past two years to complete the training, however, Local Government Victoria strongly recommends that all candidates enrol for the updated training. This will refresh their understanding of the roles and responsibilities of councils and councillors, as well as the standards they are expected to uphold if elected.
Participants who complete the training will receive a certificate of completion.
What is covered in the training?
The updated training includes information on:
- eligibility requirements for candidates
- the role of a council
- the role of a councillor, including greater emphasis on the strategic nature of the role and the time commitment required
- how councils make decisions
- updated information on governance and integrity requirements including personal interest, conflicts of interest, confidentiality, and conduct expected of councillors
- support available to help incoming councillors perform their role.
These topics will help ensure that candidates have a better understanding of the role of a councillor prior to standing.
The updated training complements the reforms introduced in the Local Government Amendment (Governance and Integrity) Act 2024 that will introduce a requirement for all councillors to complete professional development training as well as specific training for mayors and deputy mayors.
More information
For more information on the Local Government Candidate Training visit Local Government – Candidate Training.