State election candidates confirmed

THE list of people running in this month’s State election have been locked in.

Last Friday saw the close of nominations for the vote, with the order they’ll appear on the ballot drawn shortly after.

In Bendigo East, which takes in the north-east of the City of Greater Bendigo and parts of Loddon Shire, seven candidates are on the ballot.

Drawn in first spot was the Animal Justice Party’s Vyonne McLelland-Howe, she’s followed by the Liberal’s Darin Schade, One Nation’s Ben Mihail, Evelyn Keetelaar from Family First, the Green’s Michael Tolhurst, independent James Laurie, and finally sitting member and Deputy-Premier, Labor’s Jacinta Allan.

Across town in Bendigo West, nine candidates will vie for the seat that takes in the south of Bendigo and north of Mount Alexander Shire.

Topping the ballot paper is Steve Serpell from Family First, and after him and in order of draw is Ken Price from the Liberals, the AJP’s Victoria Maxwell, independent Marilyn Nuske, Richard Woolley from the Freedom Party, another independent in Matt Bansemer, current member for the ALP Maree Edwards, James Searle of the Greens, and lastly Legalise Cannabis’ Wayne Taylor.

In Euroa, which includes Heathcote and surrounds as well as parts of four other municipalities, seven people will contest the seat left vacant by retiring Nationals MP Steph Ryan.

Sitting in first is Labor’s Angela Tough, followed by the AJP’s Elaine Haddock, Annabelle Cleeland from the Nationals, the Liberal’s Brad Hern, James Bennett from the Greens, Family First’s Paul Bachelor, and Raymond Rowbotham from the Freedom Party.

Across Victoria 740 candidates nominated for the lower house, while 455 rolled the dice on an upper house seat.

Meanwhile, following the close of the electoral roll 4.4 million people will be asked to cast a vote as part of the 26 November ballot.

Electoral commissioner Warwick Gately said 50 per cent of eligible voters are likely to make use of early voting options.

“We expect more than half of all Victorian voters to vote early in the two weeks before election day,” he said.

“A list of candidates for each electorate is available on the VEC website and I encourage voters to look up their local candidates ahead of time.”

With parts of the region impacted by flooding, the VEC has expanded voting options for those affected by the ongoing emergency.

For people who have been able to return to places impacted by flooding, the election regulator suggests first checking the VEC website to see if polling and pre-polling places are available in the area.

The website also has information on which locations are covered by phone voting services from 19 November, with many communities along the Campaspe, Loddon, and Murray rivers still either flooded or recovering.

“Telephone assisted voting is available primarily for people who face significant barriers to voting in person or by post, including blind and low vision voters, those with a physical disability and, now also, those flood affected voters who cannot get to a voting centre from Saturday, 19 November to 6pm on Saturday, 26 November,” Mr Gately said.

Visit vec.vic.gov.au/flood-affected-victorians for more information.