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.

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

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Download 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.