Information for scrutineers

Scrutineers help us deliver fair and transparent elections by observing election activities. You should read the scrutineer handbook to understand your role and responsibilities.

Scrutineer briefing

Transcript – Scrutineer briefing video, 14 October 2024
[On screen text: Acknowledgement of country. The Victorian Electoral Commission pays respect to the traditional owners and their elders past and present who have been custodians of this land for thousands of years. Their living culture and their role in the life of Victoria is acknowledged by the VEC.]
[On screen text: Local council elections 2024. Scrutineer briefing.]
[On screen text: Sven Bluemmel, Victorian Electoral Commissioner]

As a scrutineer, you play an important role in our elections. 

You help to ensure integrity, fairness, transparency and public trust in our democracy.

This briefing provides an overview of your rights and responsibilities as a scrutineer.

[On screen text: Venue and emergency procedures]

Please ensure you familiarise yourself with the venue’s emergency and evacuation procedures upon entering the election venue.

Emergency procedures are displayed in an Action Plan poster at the Scrutineer Registration area.

This identifies the location of emergency exits and the areas for designated lockdown and emergency evacuation.

In the case of an emergency, it is important to follow instructions provided by VEC staff.

If you have queries regarding the emergency procedures for the venue you are attending, please speak with a VEC staff member.
[On screen text: Roles and responsibilities]

Upon entering the venue, you must follow the instructions of VEC staff. 

Failure to obey a lawful direction may result in you being removed.

As a scrutineer, you can observe all activities involved in the processing of ballot paper envelopes and ballot papers.

Activities for more than one election may be taking place within the same venue, but you can only observe activities for the election or elections you are appointed to.

Always sign in and sign out when entering and leaving the venue so that we can manage the number of scrutineers allowed in the venue.

Wear your scrutineer lanyard at all times. Please return it each time you sign out to leave the venue.

Under no circumstances are you permitted to touch ballot paper envelopes or ballot papers. If you do, you may be asked to leave.

You can observe proceedings for all activities that you are appointed to attend, but the only things you can challenge are ballot paper formality and whether votes were counted for the right candidate.

Refer to the Scrutineer handbook and venue posters on Scrutineer rights and responsibilities for more information on this.

When you are observing activities, you should not communicate with VEC staff except where necessary for your duties.

Queries or permitted challenges should be directed to the election manager or the relevant team leader only.

Please be respectful of those around you.

Make sure to allow sufficient space for VEC staff to carry out their duties and for other scrutineers to observe activities.

Eating or drinking near ballot material is not allowed. Please leave the area when you are eating or drinking.

You can use mobile phones, laptops or tablets, but they must not interfere with election activities.

For example, if you need to take a phone call you should step away from the activity area.

Photos and video recordings of ballot papers, declarations, forms and staff are prohibited.

If you are involved in loud or distracting conversations, you will be asked to step away from the activity area so staff can continue their tasks without interruption.

If an issue comes up, we will first try to resolve it with you directly or by contacting the candidate who appointed you.

For repeated disruptions, or if the issue escalates, the election manager or election official in charge may require you to leave the venue.

This concludes Part 1 of your scrutineer briefing. Please listen out for Part 2, the activity briefing.

Once you move into the activity area, an election official will explain the processes
involved in the activity you will be observing.

[On screen text: Questions?]

If you have any further questions please refer to the Scrutineer handbook or speak with the election manager.

Thank you for being a valuable part of the election process in your role as a scrutineer.

[On screen text: Authorised by S. Bluemmel, Electoral Commissioner, 530 Collins Street, Melbourne, Victoria.]

[End transcript]
 

About your role

Candidates are not allowed in election venues during extraction and counting activities. Instead, they can appoint scrutineers.

As a scrutineer, you play a key role in delivering free and fair elections. You contribute to the election’s integrity, fairness and transparency, and help to build public trust.

You can observe election activities. Election activities happen throughout the delivery of the election. Activities that you may observe include processing returned ballot paper envelopes, ballot paper extraction and counting votes. You can also challenge some activities.

You should read the scrutineer handbook for important information about your rights to observe and challenge election activities.

You must always follow election officials' instructions. If you don't, you may be required to leave an election venue.

Scrutineer handbook

Getting appointed

As a scrutineer, it's important to understand the appointment process:

  • candidates are responsible for appointing scrutineers
  • each candidate can only appoint one scrutineer per election official involved in the activity
  • you can only observe activities that you are appointed to by a candidate
  • to represent another candidate in a different election, that candidate needs to appoint you separately.

Learn more about appointing scrutineers.

Key information

  • Eligibility

    You can't be a scrutineer if you are:

    • a councillor in the council being counted
    • a candidate at the election
    • a candidate in another election (ward) occurring at the same time for the same council
    • working for the VEC at the election.
  • Before observing an election

    Before you can observe any election activities, your candidate must officially appoint you. Local council elections and Melbourne City Council elections work slightly differently.

    For both types of elections, you must complete the Appointment and declaration of scrutineer form. You candidate must sign it first, then you sign it at the election office in front of an election official.

    See our appointing a scrutineer page for more details.

    For local council elections you are appointed to a specific election (a ward, or an unsubdivided council).

    For Melbourne City Council elections you are appointed to the leadership team election or councillor election.

    For local council elections and Melbourne City Council elections, activities can happen at different venues during different stages of the election. You need a separate Appointment and declaration of scrutineer form for each venue you attend.

  • Observing local council elections

    Your role can change depending on the election activity you attend. You can observe most election activities. Some can also be challenged:

     Activity  Observe  Challenge
     Posting of ballot packs  Yes  No
     Opening and emptying a post office box  Yes  No
     Opening and emptying a postal ballot box  Yes  No
     Receiving and processing of returned ballot paper envelopes  Yes  No
     Ballot paper extraction  Yes  No
     Manual count (first preference and preference distribution)  Yes  Yes
     Computer count  Yes  Yes
     Recount  Yes  Yes

    While observing counting activities, you might disagree with the decision of an election official on ballot paper formality or whether votes were counted for the right candidate. If this happens, you can challenge the decision. We will review your challenge and make a final decision on the ballot paper.

    Read the scrutineer handbook for more information on what you can expect to see during election activities. It will also help you understand when you can challenge a decision and how we will respond.


  • Observing a Melbourne City Council election

    Your role can change depending on the election activity you attend. You can observe most election activities. Some can also be challenged:

     Activity  Observe  Challenge
     Posting of ballot packs  Yes  No
     Opening and emptying a post office box  Yes  No
     Opening and emptying a postal ballot box  Yes  No
     Receiving and processing of returned ballot paper envelopes  Yes  No
     Ballot paper extraction  Yes  No
     Initial sorting and batching of ballot papers  Yes  No
     Further sorting and counting of above-the-line councillor election ballot papers  Yes  Yes
     Computer count  Yes  Yes
     Recount  Yes  Yes

    While observing counting activities, you might disagree with the decision of an election official on ballot paper formality or whether votes were counted for the right candidate. If this happens, you can challenge the decision. We will review your challenge and make a final decision on the ballot paper.

    Read the scrutineer handbook for more information on what you can expect to see during election activities. It will also help you understand when you can challenge a decision and how we will respond.

  • What you need to do
    • Bring your completed Appointment and declaration of scrutineer form to an election official at the scrutineer registration desk.
    • Bring multiple forms if you have been appointed by more than one candidate at the same venue. Make sure that the form you bring correctly shows the venue you are attending.
    • Sign the hard copy declaration in front of the election official at the scrutineer registration desk. If the form is not completed correctly, you will not be allowed to enter the venue.
    • Join the scrutineer briefings to learn about your rights, responsibilities, and the election activity you are observing.
    • Only enter an 'activity area' when ballot material for your candidate’s election is being processed.
    • Always keep your lanyard visible. This identifies the council and ward you can observe.
    • Follow all venue rules, and all instructions from election managers and officials.
    • Behave courteously and professionally towards staff.

    Read the scrutineer handbook for more details about your role.

  • What to avoid

    You must not:

    • Interfere with or try to influence any voters.
    • Speak to anyone in the venue unless it is necessary for your role.
    • Touch ballot paper envelopes or ballot papers.
    • Observe activities you are not registered or signed in for.
    • Talk to election staff during activities or breaks.
    • Act in a way that distracts election officials, such as talking loudly, using your mobile phone, or getting too close while they work.
    • Obstruct or delay any election activities or behave in a disruptive manner.
    • Share election results with anyone besides your candidate (including the media or friends) until we have officially announced or published them.

    Read the scrutineer handbook for more detailed conduct guidelines.