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.

Voting

All voting in council elections is by post. We send ballot packs to all enrolled voters for you to complete and send back.

If you own more than one property in a council area, you get one vote.

Enrolling in local council elections

In a council election there are 2 types of voters:

  • state-enrolled voters
  • council-enrolled voters.

State-enrolled voters

You must vote in your local council election if you are on the state roll by 4 pm on the day the roll closes. If you do not vote, you may get a fine.

To find out if you are on the state roll, check your enrolment.

Council-enrolled voters

Council-enrolled voters include ratepayers who are property owners, occupiers or corporations.

You can apply to become a council-enrolled voter directly with your council if you are:

  • 18 years or older
  • a property owner, occupier or represent a corporation
  • not a state-enrolled voter within the council area.

If you are on the council roll, you must vote. If you don’t vote, you may get a fine.

To find out if you are on the council roll, contact your council directly.

Learn more about council-enrolled voters.

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.

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.