Enrolment deadline for local elections closes soon

VICTORIAN Electoral Commissioner Sven Bluemmel has urged state-enrolled and council-enrolled voters to be ready to cast their vote in the coming local government elections.

The council elections in the Surf Coast Shire, City of Greater Geelong and Borough of Queenscliffe will be conducted by post – a safe and completely secret method of voting.

Electoral Commissioner Sven Bluemmel issued a call to residents and ratepayers in the three municipalities to be ready to have their say.

“Make sure you’re enrolled correctly by the close of roll, which is 4pm on Wednesday August 7.

“As this is a postal election, it’s important to check your address details are correct – this includes any alternative postal address,’ Mr Bluemmel said.

“If you’re an Australian citizen and recently turned 18, or moved and haven’t updated your address, or if you’ve just closed your post office box with Australia Post, you can enrol or update your details online at vec.vic.gov.au/enrolment.”

People living outside a particular municipality who pay rates for a property they own within it, non-Australian citizens who occupy and pay rates on a property in a municipality, or a representative of a company or business operating in a municipality can apply to the relevant council to enrol.

Mr Bluemmel also reminded voters that the rules for council enrolments have recently changed.

‘Voting in local council elections is now compulsory for all state- and council-enrolled voters. In previous elections it was not compulsory for council-enrolled voters to vote – now everyone must vote if they are on the voters’ roll,” he said.

Voters who will be away during the election period can have their ballot pack redirected to an address of their choice by completing a redirection form online at vec.vic.gov.au by September 9.

For more information, phone 131 832 or head to vec.vic.gov.au, where state-enrolled voters can also sign up to the free VoterAlert service to receive important election reminders by SMS and email.