Information for voters and prospective candidates.

Council elections

The Shire of Campaspe's next general election will be held on Saturday, 27 October 2012, at which time all nine Councillor positions from the five wards will be decided for a four year term. The election will take place by postal vote, with all voters receiving their ballot papers in the mail.

Enrolling to vote

To be able to vote at Council elections, a person must be entitled to be included on Council’s voters’ roll on the entitlement date which, this year, is Friday, 31 August 2012. A person may only be enrolled once on Campaspe's voters’ roll. The roll comprises a number of different types of voters, as outlined below.

Voters in State and Federal elections

Everyone enrolled to vote in State and Federal elections (mainly Australian citizens aged 18 years or over who have lived at their current address for at least one month) is automatically enrolled to vote in Council elections. Voting is compulsory for these people, except for those aged 70 years or over.

To update an enrolment for your current address, pick up an enrolment form from any post office, phone the Victorian Electoral Commission (VEC) on 131 832, or download a form from the Enrolment page on the Victorian Electoral Commission website.

The following people are also eligible to be enrolled for Council elections, provided they are not already enrolled as a State or Federal elector for a property in Campaspe:

Non-resident owners

Property owners who are listed on Council’s rate records as not living in Shire of Campaspe, will automatically be included on the voters' roll. In this category, up to two owners can be enrolled per property and it is not compulsory for these voters to vote in Council elections.

Other owners

Those who don't fit into either of the above categories, e.g. are not Australian citizens, but own a property in Campaspe and are aged 18 years or over, can apply to be enrolled on the voters’ roll. Up to two owners per property may apply.

Occupiers

Up to two occupiers of a property may apply to be enrolled in place of the owners if they pay the rates, unless the Council rate notice is addressed directly to the occupiers. They must have the agreement of the owners.

Council encourages occupiers of shops and commercial and industrial properties to enrol (provided the above paragraph applies) and have their say in Council's electoral representation.

Corporation nominees

A corporation owning or occupying a property in Campaspe which pays the rates, may appoint either a director or company secretary to represent it on the voters' roll. The person it appoints cannot be eligible to vote under the other categories.

People wanting to find out if they are enrolled under these other categories, or requiring an enrolment form to be sent out, should contact Council on 1300 666 535.

Silent voters

A person may apply to have his or her address not shown on the voters’ roll. Contact Council for further details.

Becoming a candidate

Interested in becoming a Councillor? The Municipal Association of Victoria (MAV) will be holding a Community & Candidate Information Session at the Echuca Civic Centre at 6.30pm on Thursday, 2 August 2012 to provide information to prospective candidates.