Participation rates

A breakdown of voter participation rates for local council elections held across Victoria.

The following charts compare the participation rates of voters in Victorian local council elections. Each rate is the overall rate for all councils holding elections in that financial year. For statistics about elections held prior to 2000 and by-elections, please contact us.

Overall participation rates in postal elections

1999-2000 75.57%
2000-2001 78.48%
2001-2002 73.78%
2002-2003 76.42%
2003-2004 No elections held
2004-2005 75.07%
2005-2006 75.66%
2006-2008 No elections held
2008-2009 75.51%
2009-2012 No elections held
2012-2013 72.53%
2013-2016 No elections held
2016-2017 73.75%
2017-2018 79.73%
2018-2020 No elections held
2020-2021 84.12%
2021-2022 81.51%

Overall participation rates in attendance elections

1999-2000 65.07%
2000-2001 No attendance elections
2001-2002 64.62%
2002-2003 71.16%
2003-2004 No elections held
2004-2005 55.65%
2005-2006 72.80%
2006-2008 No elections held
2008-2009 70.03%
2009-2012 No elections held
2012-2013 63.62%
2013-2016 No elections held
2016-2017 61.49%
2017-2018 No attendance elections
2018-2020 No elections held
2020-2021 No attendance elections
2021-2022 No attendance elections

Overall participation rates in regional and outer metropolitan municipalities

1999-2000 76.75%
2000-2001 78.48%
2001-2002 79.35%
2002-2003 77.77%
2003-2004 No elections held
2004-2005 79.39%
2005-2006 76.70%
2006-2008 No elections held
2008-2009 78.26%
2009-2012 No elections held
2012-2013 76.32%
2013-2016 No elections held
2016-2017 77.19%
2017-2018 79.73%
2018-2020 No elections held
2020-2021 82.99%
2021-2022 81.51%

Overall participation rates in metropolitan municipalities

1999-2000 72.60%
2000-2001 No metropolitan elections
2001-2002 68.83%
2002-2003 73.91%
2003-2004 No elections held
2004-2005 66.69%
2005-2006 74.40%
2006-2008 No elections held
2008-2009 73.29%
2009-2012 No elections held
2012-2013 68.90%
2013-2016 No elections held
2016-2017 69.70%
2017-2018 No metropolitan elections
2018-2020 No elections held
2020-2021 80.39%
2021-2022 No metropolitan elections