2024 Colac Otway Shire Council Elections
The next Victorian local council elections will be held by postal ballot in October 2024.
Key Dates
Close of Roll
4pm on Friday 30 August 2024
Nominations Open
Thursday 19 September 2024
Close of Nominations
12 noon on Tuesday 24 September 2024
Mailout of Ballot Packs
Tuesday 8 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 Colac Otway Shire Council 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 must enrol before 4pm on Friday 30 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 Colac Otway Shire 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 Colac Otway Shire 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 Colac Otway Shire area.
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 Colac Otway Shire 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 Colac Otway Shire.
This includes:
- Australian citizens who own a property in Colac Otway Shire 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 Colac Otway Shire.
- Up to two (2) owner ratepayers can apply to enrol per property, but each person only gets one vote.
To enrol, please complete and submit FORM(PDF, 155KB) to elections@colacotway.vic.gov.au
Owner or Occupier Ratepayer - Resignation of Enrolment- please complete and submit FORM(PDF, 122KB) to elections@colacotway.vic.gov.au
2.2 Occupier ratepayers
You can apply to enrol in Colac Otway Shire 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 and submit FORM(PDF, 205KB) to elections@colacotway.vic.gov.au
NOTE: Occupier ratepayers must reapply before every general council election.
Owner or Occupier Ratepayer - Resignation of Enrolment - please complete and submit FORM(PDF, 122KB) to elections@colacotway.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 Colac Otway Shire.
Only one (1) person can apply to enrol as the corporation’s representative.
To enrol, please complete and submit FORM(PDF, 252KB) to elections@colacotway.vic.gov.au
Corporate Representative - Revocation of appointment - please complete and submit FORM(PDF, 170KB) to elections@colacotway.vic.gov.au
Corporate Representative - Resignation of appointment - please complete and submit FORM(PDF, 160KB) to elections@colacotway.vic.gov.au
NOTE: Corporate representatives must reapply before every general council election.
Other information
Silent Voter - Requests that address not be shown - You must complete a separate application. Please complete and submit FORM(PDF, 153KB) to elections@colacotway.vic.gov.au
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.
Resources for voters
To check if you are a State-enrolled or council-enrolled voter in Colac Otway Shire, either:
Resources for Candidates
The Victorian Electoral Commission website and the State Government Local Government Victoria website and this website will be progressively updated in the lead up to the 2024 election.
Colac Otway Shire Council is committed to encouraging diversity in people nominating for and being elected to Council. Below are a number of third-party resources which may be of assistance.
Women Leading Locally
Equality and Diversity in Local Government
A handbook for culturally diverse Victorians considering running for local government
VEC Free online Voter Education Sessions
The VEC deliver free online voter education sessions about elections to communities including people with a disability, experiencing homelessness, from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander backgrounds, culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds and young people from all communities. Voter education sessions can be delivered in some community languages and the VEC can provide interpreters.
For more information or to book a session Click here or you can e-mail education@vec.vic.gov.au or call on 131 832, or in other languages (03) 9209 0112, or via the National Relay Service (03) 8620 1100.