Call for candidates for upcoming Shire Council by-election

Published on 08 February 2023

This media release is being sent on behalf of the Victorian Electoral Commission 

Nominations to stand as a candidate for Mornington Peninsula Shire Council, Watson Ward by-election open on Thursday 9 February.

‘I encourage anyone interested in representing their local community to nominate,’ Election Manager Julie Allan said.

‘Prospective candidates should prepare to lodge their nomination in person during the nomination period.’

Nomination forms must be lodged in person, together with the $250 nomination fee, with the election manager during business hours. The election office will operate on weekdays from Thursday 9 February to Friday 17 March at:

• 21 High Street, Hastings.

Nominations close at 12pm on Tuesday 14 February. Late nominations cannot be accepted.

Prospective candidates can call the election manager from Wednesday 8 February on 1300 202 885 to make a nomination appointment.

They can also pre-fill their nomination form online using the VEC’s Candidate Helper atcandidatehelper.vec.vic.gov.au

Candidate information kits containing nomination forms and other electoral information will be available on request by contacting the election manager.

Media enquiries:

VEC Communication
Level 11, 530 Collins Street Melbourne
Victoria 3000
T 03 8620 1189 or 0437 249 254
communication@vec.vic.gov.au 

Media information

Nomination

To nominate, a person must:

• be enrolled as a voter for Mornington Peninsula Shire Council (this includes council-enrolled voters who may be non-residents)
• be an Australian citizen or qualified British subject (a British subject who was on an Australian electoral roll at the start of 1984)
• be eligible to become a councillor should they be elected
• have completed the mandatory candidate training before lodging their nomination with the election manager
• not be otherwise disqualified under the Local Government Act 2020.

Further information is available at vec.vic.gov.au, where prospective candidates can download a copy of the Candidate Handbook to familiarise themselves with the key requirements and responsibilities of nominating.

Elected candidates will represent their community on Council until the next general election in 2024.

Training

The Local Government Act 2020 requires candidates to complete the mandatory online local government candidate training before nominating. All candidates must have completed the online training.

Further information on the mandatory online local government candidate training is available from Local Government Victoria atlocalgovernment.vic.gov.au/council-governance/candidate-training

Voting

The Mornington Peninsula Shire Council, Watson Ward by-election will be conducted entirely by post. Ballot packs will be mailed to all enrolled voters from Tuesday 28 February, with election day on Saturday 18 March.

Voters will receive a ballot pack with a ballot paper listing the candidates in Watson Ward.

Voting is compulsory for voters who were on the State roll for this election at 4 pm Friday 20 January - State-enrolled voters who don’t vote may be fined. Council-enrolled voters are encouraged to vote but will not be fined if they don’t vote.