Council elections are held every four years on the fourth Saturday in October.
The next Mornington Peninsula Shire Council elections will be held Saturday, 24 October 2020.
The conduct of council elections is regulated by the Local Government Act 2020 and the Local Government (Electoral) Regulations 2020.
The management of the election process is undertaken by the Victorian Electoral Commission on Mornington Peninsula Shire Council's behalf.
The content on this web page will continue to be updated as information comes to hand from external sources, so please check back regularly.
Election Period
In the lead up to the Council Elections, Council will enter into a Caretaker Period from 12 noon Tuesday 22 September until 6:00 pm Saturday 24 October 2020.
Section 60 of the Act requires the Mornington Peninsula Shire Council to develop, adopt and keep in force Governance Rules for or with respect to an
election period policy in accordance with section 69. Section 69 of the Act requires Council to include an election period policy in its Governance Rules.
The Election Period (Caretaker) Policy(PDF, 254KB) and any Procedures developed pursuant to it have been developed in order to ensure that the general
elections for the Council on Saturday 24 October 2020 and subsequent elections are conducted in a manner that is ethical, fair and equitable, and are publicly
perceived as such.
The Policy also facilitates the continuation of the ordinary business of local government in the Council throughout the Caretaker Period in a responsible and transparent manner, in accordance with statutory requirements and best practice.
Mornington Peninsula Shire Council - Electoral Structure
Mornington Peninsula Shire Council is divided into Six Wards with a total of Eleven Councillors.
- Briars Ward (3 Councillors) includes Mount Eliza, Mornington and most of Mount Martha.
- Cerberus Ward (1 Councillor) includes Hastings and Bittern.
- Red Hill Ward (1 Councillor) includes Red Hill, Merricks North, Balnarring, Somers, Point Leo and Flinders.
- Seawinds Ward (3 Councillors) includes Rosebud, Dromana and Safety Beach.
- Nepean Ward (2 Councillors) includes Portsea, Sorrento, Blairgowrie, Tootgarook and most of Rye.
- Watson Ward (1 Councillor) includes Somerville, Tyabb and Baxter.
Mornington Peninsula Shire Council - Electoral Structure Map
This structure came into effect at the October 2016 election as a result of a 2016 Subdivision Review
The next scheduled representation review for Mornington Peninsula Council will be conducted before the 2024 Council Elections.
The roll closed for the 2020 local council elections at 4 pm on Friday 28 August.
If you are enrolled, you will receive a ballot pack in the post between Tuesday 6 and Thursday 8 October 2020.
State enrolment
- If you live in the Mornington Peninsula Shire and are enrolled to vote in State elections at your current address, you are automatically enrolled to vote in Council elections.
- If you are an Australian citizen aged 18 years or over and you have lived at your current address in the Mornington Peninsula Shire for at least one month you will need to enrol with the Victorian Electoral Commission if you are not on the State electoral roll.
You can apply, check and amend your state enrolment details online at the Victorian Electoral Commission website.
Voting is compulsory for State enrolled electors for Council elections.
Council enrolment
If you were on the last voters’ roll for Mornington Peninsula Shire at the 2016 Council elections as a non-resident owner (and the circumstances of your enrolment have not changed), you will be automatically enrolled by council to vote at this year’s election.
You can apply to vote if you are aged 18 years or over, pay rates for a property in the Mornington Peninsula Shire and are not otherwise entitled to vote in the Mornington Peninsula Shire .
This includes:
- people who are non-Australian citizens;
- property owners who do not live in the Mornington Peninsula Shire and were not enrolled on the 2016 voters’ roll as a non-resident owner; and
- people who occupy rateable property in Mornington Peninsula Shire and are liable to pay the rates.
You may also be eligible to apply to vote if you are either a director or secretary of a corporation which is liable to pay rates in the Mornington Peninsula Shire and you are appointed by the corporation to represent their interests.
Voter enrolment forms
For further information regarding enrolment forms, please contact our Revenue Office on 03 5950 1080 or via email: ratechanges@mornpen.vic.gov.au
Victorian Electoral Commission - Voting Information
Vote by post this October
- Voting is compulsory for voters who were on the State roll for this election by 4pm on Friday 28 August 2020.
- You are encouraged to vote but will not be fined if you don't if:
- you live outside the council area.
- you applied to Council to be on the roll.
- Each voter has one vote in a council area, regardless of how many entitlements you may have in the municipality.
- If you moved house and did not update your address by 4pm on Friday 28 August 2020, your ballot pack will be
addressed to your old address. If you do not have a mail redirection in place, please contact the Election Office on 1300 122 917.
- Ballot packs will be sent by the Victorian Electoral Commission to enrolled voters between 6 October and 8 October 2020.
(Please note: voters in the same households may not receive their packs on the same day).
- The ballot packs will include information on all candidates in your ward and instructions on how to fill out the ballot form.
- Enrolled voters must complete the ballot form and have their ballot packs in the return post by 6:00 pm Friday, 23 October 2020.
- Find out more about voting
- Request a redirection of ballot pack
- Download an 'Away from Victoria' notification form
- Moved house?
- Download detailed Electoral Structure Map
Click on the VEC link below:
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Nominations to stand as a candidate in the 2020 local council elections open on Thursday 17 September 2020.
The eligibility requirements for candidates have recently changed. Prospective candidates should confirm their eligibility and complete
the online mandatory local government candidate training before lodging their nomination.
This includes candidates who are currently or have previously been a Councillor.
Prospective candidates must make an appointment during business hours with the Election Manager to lodge their nomination form and
pay their $250 nomination fee by 12 noon Tuesday 22 September.
The Election office will be open for nominations during business hours from Thursday 17 September until 12 noon Tuesday 22 September 2020.
To prepare, prospective candidates can:
- Watch the candidate information session video which outlines the nomination process. Watch the video
Who can stand as a candidate in the Mornington Peninsula Shire Council elections?
To be a candidate for a local council election, you must:
- be an Australian citizen
- be at least 18 years of age on the election day
- be enrolled on the voter's roll for the council in which you wish to stand
- have completed the mandatory Local Government Candidate Training
- not be disqualified from being a Councillor
You are not eligible to stand for election if:
- you are an undischarged bankrupt
- your property is subject to control under the law relating to bankruptcy
- you are a member of council staff of the Council. You can take leave from this role in order to nominate
- you have been convicted of any of the criminal offences referred to in section 34(2) of the Act
- you are a Councillor with another Council, including interstate Councils
- you are member of an Australian Parliament, including the Federal Parliament or a Member of Parliament in any state or territory of the Commonwealth of Australia
- you are employed by a Federal or State Member of Parliament as a Ministerial Officer, a Parliamentary Adviser or an Electorate Officer. You can take leave from these roles in order to nominate
- you are otherwise incapable of becoming or continuing to be a Councillor.
Further details are outlined in the Local Government Act 202
Do I need to live in the area?
Candidates can stand for election for any ward within the Mornington Peninsula Shire, even if
their enrolled address is in a different ward within the municipality.
Local Government Victoria - Mandatory Candidate Training
The Local Government Act 2020 has a requirement for Mandatory Candidate Training. Eligibility requirements for local government election
candidates have changed.
This year, for the first time, there is a new requirement that all candidates must complete Local Government Candidate Training before you are able
to nominate and provide proof to the Victorian Electoral Commission (VEC) when you nominate as a candidate.
This includes all serving or former Councillors intending to nominate.
Find answers to frequently asked questions about the new Mandatory Candidate Training requirements here.
The mandatory Local Government Candidate Training course for the 2020 elections is now available online. The online course will take around an hour
to complete and ensure candidates fully understand the role of Councillor and its requirements.
The course can be found at https://www.localgovernment.vic.gov.au/council-governance/candidate-training
Victorian Electoral Commission (VEC) - Information Sessions
The Victorian Electoral Commission's Candidate Information video presentation is now available.
The presentation provides comprehensive information for prospective candidates to find out more about the nomination process for the 2020 local council elections.
Watch the video
The recorded version will be complemented by three state-wide interactive candidate seminars. The seminars will provide prospective candidates the opportunity to ask questions about the nomination process and the election.
Register to attend a state-wide interactive candidate seminar. Register here
No local, in-person candidate information sessions will be held because of the COVID-19 global pandemic.
You can find out more about the nomination process by reading the VEC Candidate Handbook.
Local Government Victoria have published Safe Campaign Guidelines for the 2020 local council elections.
The guidelines will help candidates understand how to comply with the directions of the Victorian Chief Health Officer to stay safe while campaigning.
They include advice on permitted campaign activities, safety for campaign teams, basic hygiene and physical distancing.
Local Government Victoria will continually update these guidelines with the latest directions and restrictions.
click on the images below to download VEC handbooks
Please visit the Victorian Electoral Commission website for further information about Council Elections.
How to Nominate
A candidate Helper application is available online from the VEC to help you complete the:
- nomination form
- candidate statement
- candidate questionnaire
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To nominate, you must:
- complete the mandatory Local Government Training before submitting your nomination
- complete a nomination form
- make an appointment to submit the hard copy in person with the Election Manager for the Mornington Peninsula Shire Council
- pay a nomination fee of $250 in cash or with a bank, building society or credit union cheque (no personal cheques).
View a Candidate Helper Video Tutorial
MAV - Stand for Council - Community and Candidate Information Session
Municipal Association of Victoria is hosting an information session ahead of Council Elections in October. It will focus on:
- Introduction to Local Government
- Introduction to your Local Council
- What is expected of a Councillor?
- Councillor interviews
- How to become a Councillor
This will be a virtual session
When: Wednesday, 9 September 2020 - 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm
Where: online via Zoom
Event Cost: Free
Registrations Essential: Register Here
Victorian Local Governance Association (VLGA) - 2020 Candidate Information and Training Sessions
The Victorian Local Governance Association will be holding candidate information sessions designed to increase understanding of Councils and the role of a Councillor for potential candidates leading up to the 2020 Council Elections.
If you are thinking about running as a candidate in this year's Local Government Elections, candidate information sessions will provide everything you need to know about how Local Government functions and the journey from community member to candidate and Councillor.
Candidate Information and Training Sessions
This will be a virtual session
When: Saturday 08 August 2020 - 1:00pm to 2:30pm
Where: online via Zoom
Event Cost: Free
Registrations Essential: Register Here
This will be a virtual session
When: Monday 10 August 2020 - 6:00pm to 7:30pm
Where: online via Zoom
Event Cost: Free
Registrations Essential: Register Here
Want to know more about councils?
Thinking of running as a candidate in the 2020 council elections? Come along to an interactive workshop presented by the Victorian Local Governance Association (VLGA) in collaboration with Mornington Peninsula Shire Council.
This free workshop will cover:
- Roles and responsibilities of Councils and Councillors
- Current issues facing local government
- Candidate information for the 2020 elections
- Campaign tips and tools
For further information please visit VLGA - Candidate Information and Training Sessions
Local Women Leading Change Sessions
South East - Local Women Leading Change Session
When: Saturday 18 July 2020
Part 1: Local Government 101 10:30am - 12:00pm
Part 2: Candidate Development 1:30pm - 3:00pm
Where: online via Zoom
Event Cost: Free
Registrations Essential: Register Here (this session is currently full. Please email deborah@vlga.org.au to be placed on the waitlist).
Are you considering running (or supporting another woman to run) in this year’s council elections?
This bumper workshop will cover content from our ‘Local Government 101’ and ‘Candidate Development’ sessions.
Women across the state - just like you - have a significant contribution to make to public life. Your connections to community, your skills and your unique perspective mean you are rich with potential to be a great local Councillor
The workshop will cover:
- What councils do
- Roles and responsibilities of Councillors
- How to become a candidate
- Managing your campaign
- Developing a policy platform
- Connecting with community
- Key skills and campaigning techniques
For further information or to view available online workshops please visit VLGA - Local Women Leading Change
Key Election Dates for Candidates
Candidates for Council Elections must adhere to certain key dates and conditions.
Entitlement Day - Friday 28 August 2020 (4:00pm)
Entitlement day (57 days before election day) is important for a candidate because it’s the last chance a person has to be correctly enrolled to vote.
Opening of Nominations - Thursday 17 September 2020
Certification of the voter's roll by the Registrar. Opening of the nomination period.
Close of Nominations - Tuesday 22 September 2020 (12 noon)
Candidates must be nominated by 12 noon on the day that is 32 days before the election day. Start of Election (Caretaker) Period.
Lodgement Deadline - Wednesday 23 September 2020 (12 noon)
Candidates personal statements and photographs must be lodged by 12 noon. Lodgement of candidate questionnaires deadline 12 noon.
Close of Voting - Friday 23 October 2002 (6:00pm)
Ballot papers must be posted by 6.00pm on the day before the election day.
Election Day - Saturday 24 October 2020
The election day is the last Saturday in October – 24 October 2020. Extraction and counting activities for postal elections commence. Postal vote receipt period closes 12 pm, Friday 30 October 2020.
Declaration of the Poll - Sunday 25 October - Friday 6 November 2020
The Election Manager will publicly declare results after the votes have been counted and scrutineers have had time to examine the record of the count. Public declaration to take place no later than Friday 6 November 2020.
Safe Campaigning for the 2020 Council Elections in Victoria
Candidates for council general elections will be considering how to safely campaign for election during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. These guidelines aim to help candidates to safely campaign by providing an overview of the restrictions applicable to campaign activities and measures they can take to reduce the risk of transmission.
click the image below to download
Campaign Donations
Local Government Election candidates are required by law to provide a record of whether they did or did not receive any donations or gifts, including in-kind support, for their election campaign.
You’re required under Victorian law to provide a completed campaign donation return if you:
- have received donations or gifts, or
- haven’t received donations or gifts
- were successfully elected, or
- weren’t elected.
The donation or gift, including in-kind support must be:
- Individually valued at over $500.
- Offered during the donation period. This means the period starting 30 days after the previous election and ending 30 days after the current election.
Under the Local Government Act 2020 , all candidates in Victorian Council Elections must submit a Return within 40 days of Election Day.
Complete a Campaign Donation Return
Download and complete the donation return and send the completed form to the Chief Executive Officer.
Campaign Donation Return
For further information please visit Local Government Inspectorate
Mornington Peninsula Shire Council Elections were held in October 2016.
For full information, please check: Mornington Peninsula Shire Council 2016 Election Results
The Returning Officer declared the results of the elections on Wednesday 2 November 2016:
Briars Ward
Cr Bev Colomb, Cr Sam Hearn and Cr Rosie Clark
Cerberus Ward
Cr Kate Roper
Nepean Ward
Cr Bryan Payne and Cr Hugh Fraser
Red Hill Ward
Cr David Gill
Seawinds Ward
Cr Antonella Celi, Cr Simon Brooks and Cr Frank Martin
Watson Ward
Cr Julie Morris
First Term Councillors
Cr Sam Hearn, Cr Rosie Clark, Cr Kate Roper, Cr Bryan Payne, Cr David Gill, Cr Simon Brooks, and Cr Julie (Edge) Morris.
Returning Councillors
Cr Bev Colomb, Cr Hugh Fraser, Cr Antonella Celi and Cr Frank Martin who was a Mornington Peninsula Shire Councillor 2008-2014
Term of Office
Council were sworn into Office at the Annual Council Meeting held Monday 14 November 2016.
General elections are run every four years. All sitting Councillors including the Mayor will go out of office at 6 am on Election Day 24 October 2020.
Campaign donation returns - 2016
The Local Government Elections in Victoria were held on 22 October 2016 by postal vote and conducted by the Victorian Electoral Commission (VEC) on behalf of Council. Pursuant to Section 62 of the Local Government Act 1989, Candidates are required within 40 days after the election day to provide an election campaign donation return.
All candidates must lodge a return within 40 days of the 2016 general election (by 1 December 2016), even if they were not elected or did not receive any campaign donations or gifts. Council is required to make available the 'election campaign donation return' a record of significant gifts received by election candidates for use in their election campaigns. These returns ensure public transparency about the level of financial and in-kind support given to candidates by individuals and organisations during elections.
Completed campaign donation returns are available for public inspection at the Council offices for four years after the election.
2016 Election Campaign Donation Returns(PDF, 66KB)