Victorians urged to enrol for upcoming local council elections
Monday 22 July 2024
For immediate release
Eligible residents and ratepayers are urged to check they are enrolled to vote for the upcoming local council elections by 4 pm Wednesday 7 August.
Electoral Commissioner, Sven Bluemmel, has issued a call ahead of the enrolment deadline: 'If you're 18 or over and you live in or pay rates to a Victorian council, enrol and have your say on the future of your local council.'
Australian citizens who have recently turned 18 or changed address can enrol or update their details online at vec.vic.gov.au/enrolment
Anyone on the state electoral roll is automatically enrolled for their current address for these elections. There are also additional council enrolment categories for non-resident owners, occupiers, company nominees and non-Australian citizens who pay rates.
The rules for council enrolment have changed. Property owners who don't live in the council area but may be eligible to vote because they pay rates should contact their local council for further information.
The 2024 Victorian local council elections will be the state’s largest single election program, with a predicted 4.7 million voters participating in 465 individual elections across 78 councils.
Moira Shire Council is under administration and will not have a general election this October.
Further information on enrolment is available by calling 131 832 or at vec.vic.gov.au, where voters can also sign up to the free VoterAlert service to receive important election reminders by SMS and email.
Media information
When does enrolment close?
Enrolment for the 2024 local council elections will close at 4 pm Wednesday 7 August 2024.Who is automatically enrolled?
People are automatically enrolled for these elections if they are on the state roll.
With the exception of Casey, Whittlesea and Melbourne City Councils, property owners who don't live in the area must now apply if they want to vote in the 2024 and future local council elections and by-elections.
Council-enrolled voters in Casey and Whittlesea City Councils who were automatically enrolled at the 2016 election because they owned a property in the council area (and still do) will remain on the roll for this election and must vote.
Up to 2 ratepayers per property will be automatically enrolled in the City of Melbourne. This includes ratepayers who own or occupy the property and live in Australia but outside the council area. For corporations or companies, this includes up to 2 officers who are either a company secretary or director.
Who has to enrol?
Australian citizens aged 18 or over, living in Victoria, must enrol if they:
- have never enrolled
- have lived at their present residential address for at least a month and have not updated their enrolment details.
Australian citizens can enrol, check or update their state enrolment details online at vec.vic.gov.au
Who can apply to council to enrol?
People can apply directly to their council if they will be 18 years of age or over on Saturday 26 October 2024 and meet any of the following criteria:
- own property in a council area but don’t live in the council area
- are non-Australian citizens who live in and pay rates for a property within the council area
- pay rates on a property they occupy in the council area, for example, operating a business
- are a director or company secretary of a corporation that pays rates to the council.
A maximum of 2 owners and 2 occupants can be enrolled for any one rateable property through the council.
There are transitional enrolment entitlements for Casey and Whittlesea City Councils, which mean that non-resident property owners will be automatically enrolled for the election if they were on the voters roll at the 2016 election for the council and their circumstances have not changed.
There are special enrolment categories for Melbourne City Council elections. These include:
- company directors and company secretaries representing a corporation that own or occupy rateable property within the City of Melbourne
- renters who are named on a lease and pay rates to the City of Melbourne and are not on the State electoral roll
- people who own property and live overseas or live within the City of Melbourne and are not Australian citizens
How many votes can a person have?
Voters are only entitled to one vote per council. If they are a state-enrolled voter, that is the enrolment they use to vote.
However, if they own property in another council or they are not an Australian citizen, they can enrol through the council to vote in the election where they live or own property. If they own multiple properties in the same council area, they must choose which property to enrol on with the council but will only be entitled to one vote in each council election.
Do you have to be enrolled to nominate for election?
Yes, prospective candidates are reminded that they must be on the voters roll of the council they wish to stand in, either as a state- or council-enrolled voter and fulfil other eligibility requirements under the Local Government Act 2020.
Is voting compulsory for council elections?
Yes, voting is compulsory for all state- and council-enrolled voters. Enrolled voters who do not vote may be fined.
Enrolment is optional for non-resident ratepayers who enrol through their local council, but once enrolled they must vote or risk a fine. For Casey, Whittlesea and Melbourne City Councils, non-resident ratepayers should check with the council if they are automatically enrolled and must vote.
Moira Shire Council was dismissed by an Act of Parliament in 2023 and will not have a general election until 2028.
How will these elections be conducted?
The 2024 local council elections will be held by post for all councils in Victoria.
Ballot packs will be mailed to all enrolled voters in mid-October. Completed ballot material must be mailed or delivered to the election office for their council by 6 pm Friday 25 October.
More information
For more information about the local council elections, visit vec.vic.gov.au