Council Elections

Local government elections will be held across Victoria on Saturday 24 October 2020.

From midday on Tuesday 22 September to 6pm on Saturday 24 October 2020 we must comply with important legislative requirements in the lead up to the election, known as the Election Period.

During this time Council cannot publish or cause to be published any electoral matter that may infringe Council’s obligation under the Local Government Act 2020 and its Election Period Policy.
This means we are limited in what information and updates we can share with you during this time to ensure that Council actions do not influence the election process and that it is fair and equal for all.

Please note some content may be hidden during the Election Period, including information about current Councillors.

Routine service delivery and administration will not be affected and will continue as normal during the Election Period.
This includes providing you with updates on urgent operational and service matters that may arise, including those surrounding current coronavirus restrictions.

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.

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. 

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, Bittern, Crib Point, Tuerong , and Moorooduc. 
  
  
• Red Hill Ward (1 Councillor) includes Red Hill , Red Hill South, Merricks North, Balnarring , Point Leo, Flinders, HMAS Cerberus, Somers, Shoreham, Main Ridge, Boneo, Fingal, Cape Schanck, and St Andrews Beach. 
  
  
• Seawinds Ward (3 Councillors) includes Rosebud, Dromana, Capel Sound, Arthurs Seat 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. 

VOTING IN THE 2020 COUNCIL ELECTIONS HAS NOW CLOSED. 

Results will be available after Friday 30 October, following the close of the postal vote receipt period.

Postal voting in the 2020 local Council elections 

Ballot packs will be mailed to everyone on the voters' roll from 6 to 8 October.

Make sure you follow the instructions on the ballot pack and return your completed vote before 6 pm on Friday 23 October for your vote count.

 VICTORIAN ELECTORAL COMMISSION - VOTING INFORMATION

VOTE BY POSTOCTOBER 2020

• 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:

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

• If you own a property in the Mornington Peninsula but are not otherwise on the voters roll such as non-Australian Citizens, and wish to enrol to vote
  please complete the Owner Ratepayer - Application for enrolment
  
  (PDF, 365KB)
• If you rent a property in the Mornington Peninsula but are not otherwise on the voters roll such as non-Australian Citizens, and wish to enrol to vote
  please complete the Occupier Ratepayer - Application for enrolment
  
  (PDF, 416KB)
• If you own a property in the Mornington Peninsula and want to change the enrolled owners listed for your property
  please complete the Owner Ratepayer - Variation of enrolled owners form
  
  (PDF, 443KB)
• If you are the secretary/director of  a corporation that owns property in the Mornington Peninsula and wish to apply to be appointed to vote on behalf of the
  corporation please complete the Corporation Owner - Appointment of voting representative form
  
  (PDF, 392KB)
• If you are the secretary/director of a corporation that is renting a property in the Mornington Peninsula and wish to apply to be appointed to vote on behalf of the corporation please complete the Corporation occupier - Appointment of voting representative form(PDF, 427KB)

For further information regarding enrolment forms, please contact our Revenue Office on 03 5950 1080 or via email: ratechanges@mornpen.vic.gov.au

Voting in the 2020 Council Elections has now closed. 

Results will be available after Friday 30 October, following the close of the postal vote receipt period. 

Please visit the Victorian Electoral Commission for further information and to view the progress and available results for the Mornington Peninsula Shire Council election results for 2020. 

Mornington Peninsula Shire has 43 candidates contesting the elections across six Wards: 

• Briars Ward (3 vacancies) includes Mount Eliza, Mornington and most of Mount Martha.
• Cerberus Ward (1vacancies) includes Hastings, Bittern, Crib Point, Tuerong , and Moorooduc.
• Red Hill Ward (1 vacancies) includes Red Hill , Red Hill South, Merricks North, Balnarring , Point Leo, Flinders, HMAS Cerberus, Somers, Shoreham, Main Ridge, Boneo, Fingal, Cape Schanck, and St Andrews Beach.
• Seawinds Ward (3 vacancies) includes Rosebud, Dromana, Capel Sound, Arthurs Seat and Safety Beach.
• Nepean Ward (2 vacancies) includes Portsea, Sorrento, Blairgowrie, Tootgarook and most of Rye.
• Watson Ward (1 vacancies) includes Somerville, Tyabb and Baxter.

Visit the Victorian Electoral Commission website to view  a full list of all Mornington Peninsula Shire candidates and their questionnaire responses.

View your Ward Candidate Statements. These Candidate Statements will also be included in the ballot pack mailed to enrolled voters from Tuesday 6 October 2020.

View Briars Ward Candidate Statements 

View Cerberus Ward Candidate Statements 

View Nepean Ward Candidate Statements

View Red Hill Ward Candidate Statements

View Seawinds Ward Candidate Statements 

View Watson Ward Candidate Statements 

In accordance with section 11.1 of Council's Election (Caretaker) Period Policy an Information Request Register will be maintained for the duration of the Election Period. 

All requests for information by candidates including current Councillors will be added to this Register to ensure equity of information for all candidates.

The Register will be updated regularly by the Council's Governance team.

Any enquiries regarding the Candidate Information Request Register can be directed to Council’s Governance team at election.information@mornpen.vic.gov.au

View the Candidate Information Request Register(PDF, 408KB)
View the Election (Caretaker) Period Policy(PDF, 254KB)

The following guidelines are provided for the placement of electoral signs within the Mornington Peninsula Shire.

WHERE SIGNS CAN BE PLACED (PRIVATE LAND)

Electoral signs are permitted on private land with the owner’s consent and without the need for a planning permit, provided that:

• It is not located on road reserves, i.e. road pavement, median strips, traffic signals, electricity poles etc.
• It is stable and securely fixed to fences or poles on private land, and not attached to trees.
• The advertisement area does not exceed 5 square meters.
• Only one sign is displayed on the land.
• It is not animated or internally illuminated.
• It is not displayed longer than 14 days after the event is held, or 3 months, whichever is sooner.

WHERE SIGNS CANNOT BE PLACED (COUNCIL LAND)

Electoral signs are not permitted on roads, municipal buildings, reserves or Council land, including any structures such as bus shelters, light poles within road reserves.
Definitions are listed below; however, in general terms, no electoral advertising is permitted on roads, parkland or Council property.

1. No signage can be placed/erected on any council road or reserve (including parks) this also includes any VicRoads, roads or reserves. 
2. Mobile billboards, (trailer types and signs that are placed in or on a vehicle) are not to be left standing / stationary as in (1) above. This type of signage has to be mobile at all times.
3. Vehicles (other than trailers) that are permanently sign written may display signage, provided that they meet parking legislation requirements including time limits etc.
4. The Environmental Protection Act 1970 (Litter section) prohibits the placing of any form of advertising on the windscreens of vehicles anywhere (public or private land).
5. Banners, flags are also prohibited as in (1) above and are not to be attached to any fixtures located on any of the roads or reserves as in (1).

Council may remove non-compliant signs where located on Council land and retain them for collection by the candidate.

AUTHORISATION OF ELECTORAL MATERIAL

A person must not print, publish or distribute or cause, permit or authorise to be printed, published or distributed, an electoral advertisement, handbill, pamphlet or notice unless:

• The name and address of the person who authorised the electoral advertisement, handbill, pamphlet or notice appears on its face
  (The address can be a street address or a PO Box address but cannot be an email address.)

Download a copy Council's Electoral Signage Guidelines(PDF, 340KB)
You can read more information in Council's Signage Policy(PDF, 3MB)

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

• Register to attend a state-wide interactive candidate seminar.  Register for a session

• 7 pm Wednesday 9 September 2020
• 1 pm Sunday 13 September 2020 
• 5 pm Tuesday 15 September 2020      

WHO CAN STAND AS A CANDIDATE IN THE MORNINGTON PENINSULA SHIRE COUNCIL ELECTIONS?

You are not eligible to stand for election if:

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

• 7 pm on Wednesday 9 September 2020
• 1 pm on Sunday 13 September 2020 and
• 5 pm on Tuesday 15 September 2020

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

Candidate Handbook	COVIDSafe Election Plan	Candidate Kit

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

Click on link to access

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

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. 

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