Voting

Check the mail for your ballot pack

Ballot packs containing voting material were mailed to enrolled voters from Monday 7 October.

If you do not receive your ballot pack by Tuesday 15 October please visit vec.vic.gov.au to complete the online replacement form, or call 131 832 to arrange a replacement.

You can also check your enrolment with VEC.  The results will show the electoral structures and internal ward boundaries that apply.

Check enrolment details

Notice to Kalimna and Wyn Wyn Ward Voters 

At the close of nominations, the Kalimna and Wyn Wyn wards had the same number of candidates as vacancies for this election.

As a result, the candidates have been elected unopposed.

Voters enrolled in the Kalimna and Wyn Wyn wards will not get a ballot pack in the mail this October.

Voting is compulsory

It is compulsory for every person enrolled to vote at the 2024 local council elections. This requirement then continues for every council election and by-election thereafter and applies whether you are a state-enrolled or council-enrolled voter.

Exemptions to compulsory voting are prescribed in regulation 84 of the Local Government (Electoral) Regulations 2020.

Silent Voter- Requests that address not be shown - You must complete a separate application. Please complete and submit the Silent-voter-request-form.pdf(PDF, 59KB) to elections@hrcc.vic.gov.au

Key dates

Enrol to vote by
4pm on Wednesday 7 August 2024 

Mailout of Ballot Packs
Monday 7 October to Thursday 10 October 2024

Close of Voting
6pm on Friday 25 October 2024 (postal ballots must be in the mail by this time for your vote to be counted)

Election Day
Saturday 26 October 2024 (no in person voting)

Election to be declared by no later than Friday 15 November 2024.

Who can vote

In a Victorian local council election there are two types of voters:

1. State-enrolled (automatically enrolled to vote in the 2024 HRCC elections).

2. Council-enrolled (must apply to be enrolled and include owner ratepayers, occupier ratepayers and corporation representatives).

You can only vote once in each municipality, no matter how many properties you own or occupy.

You should enrol before Wednesday 7 August 2024.

Voting is compulsory for everyone who is enrolled.

1. State-enrolled voters

If you are on the State electoral roll, you are automatically enrolled to vote in the 2024 council elections for your enrolled address (where you live).

To be eligible to enrol on the State electoral roll you must be:

  • 18 years or older
  • An Australian citizen
  • Have lived at your address in the HRCC municipality for longer than one month.

To check if you are enrolled on the State electoral roll or for more information visit the VEC website

There is no limit to the number of State-enrolled voters for any one property.

2. Council-enrolled voters (ratepayers)

Some ratepayers can apply to become council-enrolled voters in n the HRCC municipality if they are:

  • A property owner, occupier or represent a corporation
  • 18 years or older on election day (26 October 2024)
  • Not a state-enrolled voter within the HRCC municipality.

The rules for council-enrolled voters have changed ahead of the 2024 council elections.

These changes are explained below.

2.1 Owner ratepayers

You can apply to enrol in HRCC elections if you:

  • Own property and pay rates in the council area
  • Are 18 years or older on election day (26 October 2024)
  • Are not a State-enrolled voter who lives in the HRCC municipality.

This includes:

  • Australian citizens who own a property in the HRCC municipality but do not live in the area (for example an investment or a holiday home)
  • non-citizens over 18 years who own a property and live in the HRCC municipality.
  • Up to two (2) owner ratepayers can apply to enrol per property, but each person only gets one vote.

To enrol, please complete the Owner-ratepayer-ongoing-Application-for-enrolment-form.pdf(PDF, 64KB) and email to elections@hrcc.vic.gov.au.

Owner or Occupier Ratepayer - Resignation of Enrolment- please complete the Owner-or-occupier-ratepayer-Resignation-of-enrolment-form.pdf(PDF, 57KB) and email to elections@hrcc.vic.gov.au.

2.2 Occupier ratepayers

You can apply to enrol in the HRCC elections if you:

  • Pay rates for a property that you occupy but do not own
  • Are 18 years or older on election day (26 October 2024)
  • Are not a state-enrolled voter.

This includes where you operate a business out of a commercial property.

Up to two (2) occupier ratepayers per property can apply to enrol, but each person only gets one vote.

To enrol, please complete the Occupier-ratepayer-Application-for-enrolment-form.pdf(PDF, 67KB) and email to elections@hrcc.vic.gov.au.

NOTE: Occupier ratepayers must reapply before every general council election.

Owner or Occupier Ratepayer - Resignation of Enrolment - please complete the Owner-or-occupier-ratepayer-Resignation-of-enrolment-form.pdf(PDF, 57KB) and email to elections@hrcc.vic.gov.au.

2.3 Corporations

You can apply to enrol to vote on behalf of a corporation if you:

  • Are a director or company secretary of a corporation that pays rates (either as an owner or an occupier) in the council area
  • Have consented to being appointed as the corporation’s representative
  • Are not already a state-enrolled voter or council-enrolled voter for the HRCC elections.

Only one (1) person can apply to enrol as the corporation’s representative.

To enrol, please complete the Corporation-owner-or-occupier-Appointment-of-voting-representative-form.pdf(PDF, 71KB) and email to elections@hrcc.vic.gov.au

Corporate Representative - Revocation of appointment - please complete the Corporate-representative-Revocation-of-appointment-form.pdf(PDF, 63KB) and email to elections@hrcc.vic.gov.au.

Corporate Representative - Resignation of appointment - please complete the Corporate-representative-Resignation-of-appointment-form.pdf(PDF, 59KB) and email to elections@hrcc.vic.gov.au.

NOTE: Corporate representatives must reapply before every general council election.