Local government elections to proceed

By Sean Car

The state government has confirmed that local government elections will still go ahead as planned on Saturday, October 24.

Questions had been raised in recent months as to whether the elections would be pushed back amid COVID-19 lockdowns and public safety measures to allow the Victorian Electoral Commission (VEC) more time to compile electoral rolls. However, Minister for Local Government Adem Somyurek confirmed that Victorians would still be able to have their say this October with “safe and secure” postal votes to be used for the elections.

Mr Somyurek said it would be the first time

postal voting had been used across all Victorian councils, following changes to the Local Government Act 2020 requiring a state-wide and uniform approach to voting.

Ballot packs will be mailed to voters and will include voting instructions, candidate information, a ballot paper, and a reply-paid envelope. Postal voting is completely secret. “We will continue to liaise with Australia Post, given their critical role in the elections,” VEC electoral commissioner Warwick Gately said. Voters must confirm they are enrolled on either the State electoral roll or their council roll before 4.00pm on Friday, August 28.