What is electoral misinformation?

Fact: there are systems in place to ensure postal voting is secret and secure.

We separate voter details from postal ballot envelopes before they are opened so you cannot be associated with your completed ballot paper.

Our extensive integrity checks ensure that any attempt at postal vote fraud are detected and dealt with immediately.

Fact: votes can be counted by hand or computer. We hold computerised counts for certain elections using ComputerCount – software developed and maintained by the VEC that has been independently audited.

For state elections, lower house ballot papers are counted by hand only, under the supervision of scrutineers. Upper house ballot papers are counted by hand first, and then by computer.

For local government elections, multi-vacancy wards and unsubdivided councils are counted by computer only. Most single-vacancy wards are counted by hand only, unless enrolment and/or candidate numbers are high, when they may be counted by computer instead.

Fact: we will not change your vote – tampering or interfering with someone’s vote is an offence.

We offer pencils at voting centres because they do not dry out or get jammed like pens can, and can easily be re-used. You are welcome to bring your own pen to complete your ballot.

Fact: we take the integrity of the electoral roll very seriously and regularly check its accuracy. Under our joint roll arrangement with the Australian Electoral Commission (AEC), the AEC determines electors' eligibility as part of its enrolment process before providing data for us to include on our register of electors. We investigate any duplicates through this process.

If someone wants to enrol but doesn’t have a drivers licence or passport, they can ask someone else on the electoral roll to confirm their identity.

Both the person enrolling and the person verifying their identity must sign a declaration. Providing false information is a serious offence.

People can also lodge an objection with us if they believe someone has enrolled fraudulently, including at an address that is not their main home.

Fact: a seal is not required to issue or return writs for a state election.

All that is required is the signature of the Governor of Victoria, in line with Schedule 1 of the Victorian Electoral Act 2002.

Fact: there is no minimum number or proportion of people required to vote to make an election valid.

Fact: unlike a state election, a writ does not need to be issued for a local government election in Victoria.

The process for holding local government elections in Victoria is set out in the Local Government Act 2020 and Local Government (Electoral Regulations) 2020, which also fixes the dates for local government elections.

Fact: if you select ‘an elector who has attained 70 years of age’ on the Registration as a general postal voter form, you will get ballot papers in the mail for future Victorian state and local government elections only.

You must satisfy one of the other eligibility criteria to be enrolled as a general postal voter for all federal, state and local government elections.

Fact: the VEC is an independent and impartial body set up under the Victorian Electoral Act 2002.

We report directly to Parliament, including the Electoral Matters Committee, which is made up of members from multiple political parties.

Fact: the VEC is impartial and treats everyone equally.

There are various laws that outline the electoral rules guiding our activities, and we are responsible for applying relevant law to all people equally.

Fact: when a political party applies for registration, we check that it meets the requirements set out in the Victorian Electoral Act 2002. The Act also sets out the reasons we must refuse an application.

This includes confirming that the party:

• has at least 500 members who are enrolled to vote in Victoria and are not members of another registered political party (or other political party applying for registration). We check membership independently of the political party to make sure it has 500 members who meet these criteria.
• has a secretary and a registered officer.
• has a constitution and intends to promote the election of a member of the party to the Victorian Parliament.
• has a name – and if it has one, a logo – that is allowed under the Act.

We cannot assess or verify a political party's character, policies or why that party seeks election to the Victorian Parliament. Our role is only to determine whether a party meets the requirements for registration under the law.