VOTING

WHY IT MATTERS

Why Vote

We vote as our representatives make decisions on our behalf, ensuring that our elected are those preferred genuinely by the majority of the electorate.

In Australia voting is compulsory if you are enrolled to vote, failing to do so without a valid reason you may be fined. You must be 18 years of age, and register through the Australian Electoral Commission. Being enrolled to vote you must vote in all three levels Government elections and polls.

The three levels of Government are:

1. Federal - Makes decisions about issues that affect all Australians ie: foreign policy, defence force, social welfare ect.

2. State - Makes decisions about issues that specifically affect Victorians ie: Hospitals and health services, emergency services, Primary and Secondary Education ect.

3. Council - Make decisions on a range of local issues ie: Libraries and community centers, sporting venues, local roads and footpaths, rubbish and recycling ect.

Local Election

Local Elections are held every four years in October on the fourth saturday. The last Local Council Election was done in 2016, meaning a Local Election will be next happening on Saturday October 24th 2020.

Local Elections allow you to elect people to represent your local municipality. The Minister of Local Government has determined an electoral structure that determines the number of councillors. In Victoria a Council MUST consist of 5 to 12 councillors. Once the required amount of councilors have been elected, they decide which one of them will act as Mayor.

How to Vote

Ensure that your details are up to date on the AEC. All enrollments and detail updates must be done before August 28th 2020.

Voting can be either done in attendance or through postal vote.

On 15 May 2020 the Minister for Local Government announced that the 2020 Council elections will still go ahead and declared that postal voting will be used across the State, in accordance to the newly proclaimed Local Government Act 2020.

Please note: The Chief Health Officer has advised that it is safe for the postal election to proceed this year during the COVID-19 pandemic.

For further information please visit the following websites

Do I Have to Vote?

https://www.vec.vic.gov.au/Voting/DoIHaveToVote.html

Local Council Elections

https://www.vec.vic.gov.au/Voting/LocalCouncilElections.html

What If I don't Vote?

https://www.vec.vic.gov.au/Voting/WhatIfIDidntVote.html

COVID 19 and Local Council Elections

https://www.vec.vic.gov.au/Media/October2020LocalCouncilElections.html

Australian Electoral Commission

https://www.aec.gov.au/