Ballot packs mailed for Greater Dandenong City Council by-election
Tuesday 20 February 2024
For immediate release
Voters in Dandenong West and sections of Noble Park should check the mail for their ballot packs for the Greater Dandenong City Council, Yarraman Ward by-election.
Election Manager Jenni Colgan is encouraging people to vote as early as possible.
‘This election is postal, so it’s important to complete and return your ballot material as soon as possible to make sure your vote counts,’ Ms Colgan said.
Ballot material must be in the mail or delivered to the election office at Ground Floor, 237 Lonsdale Street, Dandenong by 6 pm Friday 8 March. Voters should check their local mail clearance times as this could be earlier than 6 pm, or earlier in the week.
Voters who haven’t received their ballot pack by Wednesday 28 February should call 03 9678 1488 during business hours for a replacement.
Candidates who have nominated for the by-election are listed in the ballot packs and on the Victorian Electoral Commission (VEC) website at vec.vic.gov.au. If candidates have provided them, there will also be candidate photos and statements in the packs, and answers to the candidate questionnaire online.
Voting is compulsory for voters who were on the state roll for this election at 4 pm Friday 12 January. State-enrolled voters who don’t vote may be fined. The VEC encourages council-enrolled voters to vote but they will not be fined if they don’t.
Media information
Voting
Yarraman Ward includes Dandenong West, sections of Noble Park and surrounding areas.
Voting in the Greater Dandenong City Council, Yarraman Ward by-election is entirely by post – there are no voting centres.
The VEC will send ballot packs to all enrolled voters between Tuesday 20 February and Thursday 22 February. Packs are delivered in random order, so voters in the same home may receive their packs on different days. Voters must mail their completed packs or hand-deliver them to the election office by 6 pm Friday 8 March.
The by-election uses full preferential voting: voters will need to put the number ‘1’ in the box next to the candidate they most want to see elected, and then number all the other boxes in order of their choice. Voters must number every box and only use each number once.
Candidates
A list of candidates is available on the VEC website at vec.vic.gov.au. If candidates have provided contact details, photos, statements, and answers to the questionnaire, these will also be available on the website.
The elected candidate will represent their community on Greater Dandenong City Council until the next general election in 2024.
Results
The VEC can only finalise results after it has received all ballots admissible to the count. The Local Government (Electoral) Regulations 2020 allow postal votes to be received until 12 noon on Monday 18 March. This ensures votes signed by the close of voting can be included in the count. Votes received during the extended period will be admitted if the voter completed them before the close of voting.
Candidates can appoint scrutineers to watch the counting process. The VEC expects the successful candidate to be declared no later than Friday 22 March.
Once declared elected, the Chief Executive Officer of Greater Dandenong City Council will swear in the incoming councillor under the Local Government Act 2020.