Check your enrolment before the shire’s council election

THE Victorian Electoral Commission (VEC) is urging people to check they are enrolled for October’s council elections.
The election will be held by post in the Surf Coast Shire and other municipalities across Victoria, and the VEC says the method is safe and completely secret.
Electoral Commissioner Warwick Gately issued a call to Surf Coast Shire residents and ratepayers to be ready to have their say.
“Make sure you’re enrolled correctly by the close of roll, which is 4pm on August 28,” he said.
“As this is a postal election, it’s important to check your address details are correct – this includes any alternative postal address.
“If you’re an Australian citizen and you’ve recently turned 18 or moved, and you haven’t enrolled or 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.”
Non-Australian citizens who occupy and pay rates on a property or business in the Surf Coast Shire, or people living outside the Surf Coast Shire who pay rates for a property they own in the Surf Coast Shire, can apply to the council to enrol by phoning 5261 0600.
Non-resident owners who were enrolled at the most recent election (including any by-elections) for the Surf Coast Shire council will be automatically enrolled.
“Voting in local council elections is compulsory if you’re a state-enrolled voter, and we encourage council-enrolled voters to vote,” Mr Gately said.
“Your local council makes important decisions about your community facilities, services and local business community, so it’s important to have your say by voting in this election.”
Voters who will be away during the election period can have their ballot pack redirected to an address of their choice by making a request in writing by September 17.
More information is available by calling 131 832 or at 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.