2024 Local Government Elections

Have you thought about being a Councillor?

Being a Councillor is a rewarding challenge – one which requires commitment, responsibility and accountability.

Many people in our local communities provide strong and strategic leadership. Local government can perform at its peak and make informed decisions when communities are represented by a diverse group of leaders. Diversity comes in many forms including backgrounds, experiences, culture, age and gender.

If you want to be involved in the future of your community, and are willing to learn and participate, then you should explore what it takes to be a Councillor. 

You can find out more about becoming a local council candidate and the nomination process by reading the Victorian Electoral Commission's Candidate Handbook.

Click here to download the Candidate Handbook.(PDF, 403KB)

Helpful links for candidates

Eligibility and mandatory requirements for candidates from Victorian Electoral Commission

Stand For Council information sessions run by the Municipal Association of Victoria

Women X Stand For Council - Municiple Association of Victoria

Candidate and Scrutineer handbooks - Victorian Electoral Commission

MAV Citizen to Councillor Guide 2024 - Municiple Association of Victoria

 

 

Campaspe Shire Council is holding a series of information sessions for community members interested in running in the upcoming 2024 local government elections. These sessions are designed to provide potential candidates with essential information about the election process, candidate requirements, and the roles and responsibilities of councillors.

Campaspe Candidate information sessions with Tony Raunic  and Cr Despi O’Connor
In July, Campaspe Shire Council hosted some kitchen table conversations with Tony Raunic for people who are interested in standing for council. Tony is one of Victoria’s leading local government and public law legal advisors and brings the benefit of his own experience as an elected councillor having served two terms on the Shire of Nillumbik as Mayor and Councillor.

In August, prospective candidates were also encouraged to come and speak with Cr Despi O'Connor - Vice President Metro and Secretary of the Australian Local Government Women’s Association (ALGWA) and hear about standing for Council from a female perspective.

 MAV Community and Candidate Information sessions

There are also a number of information sessions which are being run in partnership with Victorian Councils and the Municipal Association of Victoria (MAV) that can be attended online or in person.

Full details of all sessions are available on the MAV website – click here for details.

 LGBTIQA+ Stand for Council Candidate Information Session

A dedicated LGBTIQA+ Stand for Council Candidate Information Session is being hosted by the Municipal Association of Victoria in partnership with Rainbow Local Government. This event aims to support and encourage greater LGBTIQA+ representation in local government.

Monday, 19 August, Victorian Pride Centre, 79/81 Fitzroy St, St Kilda

Full details of all sessions are available on the MAV website – click here for details.

Victorian Electoral Commission

VEC recommend anyone who wants to become a candidate watch their candidate information series.

The VEC Candidate Handbook has all the information you need to know about how elections work and how to nominate.

The VEC Scrutineer Handbook describes what activities a scrutineer can observe and gives instructions on how to appoint a scrutineer.

The period from 12noon on 17 September until 6pm 26 October 2024 in the lead up to elections, is known as the election period or "caretaker period". This is in accordance with the Local Government Act. 

The Act states that the election period starts on the last day on which nominations for the election can be received and finishes at 6pm on the election day.

It is a period where Councils are constrained in their activities. This ensures Council resources aren’t used in a way that could influence the outcome of an election.

Campaspe Shire Council has an Election Period Policy to guide officers and Councillors in how to operate during the Election Period.

Click here to download Council's Election Period Policy.

In February 2024, the Victorian Minister for Local Government announced changes to the electoral structure of Campaspe Shire ahead of the 2024 local government elections. From the 2024 election, Campaspe Shire will change from the existing five ward structure (Echuca, Western, Rochester, Kyabram-Deakin and Waranga) to an unsubdivided structure with all nine elected members representing the whole municipality.

Read more here.

Your vote matters. Local council elections are your chance to choose who you want to represent your community on the issues that you care about. Local council elections will be held in Victoria by post this October for all councils except Moira Shire Council.  

For information on Campaspe Shire Council election and enrolling to vote, visit the VEC Website

VEC Campaspe Shire Council Notice of Election(PDF, 680KB)

Voting enrolment

To vote in this election you must have been correctly enrolled by 4pm on Wednesday, 7 August.

There are 2 types of enrolment:

1. state enrolment

2. council enrolment.

If you are enrolled, you must vote.

State-enrolled voters

Residents should check their enrolment status with the Victorian Electoral Commission.

You must enrol and vote if you:

• are an Australian citizen

• are 18 years or older

• have lived at your address for longer than one month.

Council-enrolled voters

You can apply to enrol with your local council if you are:

• 18 years or older

• an owner ratepayer, occupier ratepayer or represent a corporation

• not already a state-enrolled voter in this council area.

You do not have to be an Australian citizen to become a council-enrolled voter.

Contact your local council directly to check if you are already council-enrolled voter or to apply to enrol.

Once you are enrolled, you must vote. If you don’t vote, you may get a fine.

For more information, to enrol or update your enrolment, visit the Victorian Electoral Commission website.

How to vote

The 2024 Local Government Elections will be conducted entirely by postal ballots in Victoria. The Victorian Electoral Commission will send ballot packs in due course with all relevant dates and information for voting. Voting ballots must be mailed back to the Victorian Electoral Commission in the reply paid envelope found in the ballot pack. Voting ballots cannot be dropped at Council.

If voters will be away when ballot packs are mailed (7-10 October 2024), they should visit the VEC's away during the election page to request their ballot be sent to a different address.

Failure to vote

People are required to vote at Council elections held for the municipality in which they have their principal place of residence. Failure to vote will attract a penalty unless you are entitled to an exemption under the Local Government Act 2020. 

Important dates

• Wednesday, 7 August: Roll closes at 4 pm
• Monday, 9 September: Nominations open at 9 am
• Tuesday, 17 September: Nominations, candidate statements, photographs, and questionnaires close at 12 noon
• Wednesday, 18 September: Ballot draw
• Monday, 7 October: Ballot pack mail out begins
• Friday, 25 October: Voting closes at 6 pm
• Saturday, 26 October: Election Day (please note, this is a postal election and ballots must be returned or postmarked by 6pm, 25 October)
• Friday, 15 November: All election results declared

Victorian Electoral Commission

Victorian Government Department of Government Services Council Elections 2024 page.

Municpal Association of Victoria

Local Government Victoria Candidate Training

Local Government Inspectorate

Victorian Government Council Profile