Council & Business
2 August, 2024
Local council election timeline
Residents are being reminded of the upcoming council election.
The local council election will take place in October and is set to be held by post, voters must be on the voters’ roll by 4 pm Wednesday, August 7 to be able to vote at the election.
Electoral commissioner Sven Bluemmel issued a call to Central Goldfields Shire residents and ratepayers to be ready to have their say.
“As this is a postal election, it’s important to check your address details are correct — this includes any alternative postal address,” he said.
“If you’re an Australian citizen and recently turned 18, or moved and haven’t updated your address, or if you’ve just closed your post office box with Australia Post, you can enrol or update your details online at vec.vic.gov.au/enrolment.”
People living outside the Central Goldfields Shire who pay rates for a property they own in the shire, non-Australian citizens who occupy and pay rates on a property in the shire, or a representative of a company or business operating locally can apply to the council to enrol by calling 5461-0610.
Mr Bluemmel also reminded voters that the rules for council enrolments have recently changed.
“Voting in local council elections is now compulsory for all state and council enrolled voters,” he said.
“In previous elections it was not compulsory for council-enrolled voters to vote — now everyone must vote if they are on the voters’ roll.”
Voters who will be away during the election period can have their ballot pack redirected to an address of their choice by completing a redirection form online at vec.vic.gov.au by Monday, September 9.
More information is available by calling 131 832 or at vec.vic.gov.au, where state-enrolled voters can also sign up to the free VoterAlert service to receive important election reminders by SMS and email.
Key dates for the 2024 Central Goldfields Shire Council general election
- August 7 — close of roll voters must be on the voters’ roll by this date (4 pm) to vote at the election.
- September 9 — nominations open candidates can nominate with the election manager from this date.
- September 17 — nominations close this is also the deadline to submit candidate statement, questionnaire and photo.
- September 18 — ballot draw.
- October 7 — mail packs sent ballot packs are randomly distributed to every person on the voters’ roll.
- October 25 — close of voting Ballot papers must be in the mail or handed to the election office by 6 pm.
- October 26 — election day.
- November 1 — final day for receipt of mailed postal votes.
- November 15 — latest date all results will be declared the VEC publishes the election results on the VEC website by this date.