Latrobe City Council election

Voting

Voting in this election is by post only.

We will post ballot packs to all enrolled voters from Monday 7 October.

Your ballot pack will contain:

• a ballot paper
• candidate statements
• a ballot paper envelope (for your vote to go in)
• a reply-paid envelope (for your ballot paper envelope to go in).

Each item in your ballot pack will have a barcode on it. These barcodes represent a council (and ward, where applicable). We use these when putting your ballot pack together to make sure it has the right contents.

You can look at the barcodes for each council and compare it with the barcode on your ballot materials.

Your ballot paper envelope includes your unique voter details. We separate any identifying information from the ballot paper envelopes before they are opened, ensuring postal voting is secret and secure.

These documents contain images of barcodes which cannot be read by a screen reader. If you are blind or have low vision, call 131 832 for assistance.

How to vote

Follow the instructions in your ballot pack to complete your vote.

Make sure you post it or drop it off at the election office before 6 pm on Friday 25 October.

Local mail collection times differ. Check the collection time on your post box to make sure your vote is in the mail on time.

Find my candidates

The complete list of candidates in ballot draw order will be available on this website from Wednesday 18 September.

Away during the election

If you're going to be away between Monday 7 October and Friday 25 October, you may still be able to vote.

Options if you’re away during the election.

If you own multiple properties

You have one vote for each council you are enrolled to vote in.

Check my enrolment

Large print or braille ballot packs

If you are blind or have low vision, you can register to get your ballot pack in large print or braille.

You only need to register once. We will contact you each time you need to vote to confirm your ballot pack details.

Registrations are open until 5 pm on Tuesday 10 September. Call 03 8620 1314 to register.

Candidates

If you wish to stand as a candidate in this election, nominations will:

• open on Monday 9 September
• close at 12 noon on Tuesday 17 September.

Candidate information session

We are holding candidate information sessions for each local council between Wednesday 4 and Friday 6 September.

Find information sessions

Check your eligibility

You must meet certain eligibility to become a candidate in a local council election.

Check your eligibility to become a candidate.

How to nominate

To nominate, you must:

• complete the Victorian Government’s free Local Government Candidate Training before nominating
• complete the nomination form
• make an appointment to submit your completed nomination form in person at the election office (available from Tuesday 20 August)
• pay the $250 nomination fee.

We also encourage you to provide a statement, photo and answer a questionnaire, but this is not compulsory.

Nomination form

Candidate Helper is an online tool to help you prepare your nomination and other documentation.

Go to Candidate Helper

Candidate statement, photo and questionnaire

To give voters information about your background, qualifications and what you stand for, you can also provide:

• a candidate statement of up to 200 words
• a recent photo of yourself
• answers to the candidate questionnaire.

This information will be publicly available.

Go to Candidate Helper

Authorising electoral campaign material

If you are sharing something that is considered 'electoral campaign material', you must authorise it.

These requirements apply to everyone at all times, not just candidates or during elections.

Learn more about authorising electoral campaign material.

The Local Government Inspectorate is responsible for enforcing these rules and investigating breaches. Visit lgi.vic.gov.au for more information.

Campaign donations

Candidates must disclose donations and gifts received in the lead up to an election.

The Local Government Inspectorate is responsible for enforcing these rules and investigating breaches. Visit lgi.vic.gov.au for more information.

Candidate resources

To learn more about how to nominate you can:

• download the Candidate Handbook
• download the candidate information kit
• download the Scrutineer Handbook
• watch the candidate information series
• read about becoming a local council candidate
• read the nomination guide.

Enrolment

The roll for this election closed at 4 pm on Wednesday 7 August.

It is too late to enrol or update your enrolment for this election.

If you are enrolled, you must vote. Voting is compulsory. If you don't vote you might receive a fine.

Check my enrolment

I have changed address

You can ask us to send your ballot pack to a different address if your address has changed since the roll closed (Wednesday 7 August).

If you have moved within or out of this council after the roll closed, you must vote for your old address or risk a fine.

Ballot pack redirection form

If you prefer a hard copy you can download the ballot pack redirection form.

To submit your hard copy form you can either:

• scan or take a clear photo of it and email it to redirections@vec.vic.gov.au
• post it to:
  Victorian Electoral Commission
  Level 11, 530 Collins Street
  Melbourne 3000 VIC

Applications close at 5 pm on Monday 9 September.

Updated address after close of roll

If you have updated your address after the roll closed on Wednesday 7 August, you can still vote.

You can ask us to send your ballot pack to a different address.

Ballot pack redirection form

If you prefer a hard copy you can download the ballot pack redirection form.

To submit your hard copy form you can either:

• scan or take a clear photo of it and email it to redirections@vec.vic.gov.au
• post it to:
  Victorian Electoral Commission
  Level 11, 530 Collins Street
  Melbourne 3000 VIC

Applications close at 5 pm on Monday 9 September.

If you are enrolled you must vote. If you don't vote you may receive a fine.