Melbourne City Council 2008 elections
About voting
Is it compulsory to vote?
How is voting conducted?
How do I vote?
Where can I return my ballot papers?
What if I am away or my address has recently changed?
What if I haven't received my ballot pack?
How are votes counted?
How can I contact the Returning Officer?
Unlike other council elections, it is compulsory for non-residents and nominees of corporations to vote.
Example of a Leadership Team ballot paper.
To complete the pink Leadership Team ballot paper, place a 1 in the box against your preferred Leadership Team, and then number all of the remaining boxes in the order of your preference. Make sure to number every box. Do not use any number more than once.
Example of a ballot paper for the councillors.
The blue councillors ballot paper resembles a Federal or State Upper House ballot paper. You can vote either “above the line” for your preferred group, or “below the line” for all the individual candidates. If you vote “above the line”, the preferences for that ballot paper are distributed according to the group’s or candidate's voting ticket. If you vote “below the line”, you have to number every box.
Once you have completed both ballot papers, place them in the ballot paper envelope and fill in the declaration. Place the ballot paper envelope in the reply-paid envelope and put it in the post straight away.
For your vote to count, it must be received by the Returning Officer by 6.00 pm on Friday, 28 November 2008.
For the Leadership Team, votes are counted using preferential counting.
For the seven councillors, votes are counted using proportional representation.
The election office will be open from Wednesday, 22 October 2008.
How is voting conducted?
How do I vote?
Where can I return my ballot papers?
What if I am away or my address has recently changed?
What if I haven't received my ballot pack?
How are votes counted?
How can I contact the Returning Officer?
Is it compulsory to vote?
Yes. Voting is compulsory for everyone on the voters roll for the Melbourne City Council elections. People who fail to vote without an adequate reason may be fined. It is not compulsory to vote if you are aged 70 years or over.Unlike other council elections, it is compulsory for non-residents and nominees of corporations to vote.
How is voting conducted?
The Melbourne City Council has appointed the VEC to conduct its elections by postal voting. A postal election is conducted entirely by post. Ballot packs containing voting material will be posted to your postal address from Tuesday, 11 November 2008.How do I vote?
Your ballot pack will contain two ballot papers. The pink ballot paper is to elect the Lord Mayor and Deputy Lord Mayor and the blue one is to elect seven councillors. Complete both ballot papers and post them using the reply paid envelope provided.
Example of a Leadership Team ballot paper.
To complete the pink Leadership Team ballot paper, place a 1 in the box against your preferred Leadership Team, and then number all of the remaining boxes in the order of your preference. Make sure to number every box. Do not use any number more than once.
Example of a ballot paper for the councillors.
The blue councillors ballot paper resembles a Federal or State Upper House ballot paper. You can vote either “above the line” for your preferred group, or “below the line” for all the individual candidates. If you vote “above the line”, the preferences for that ballot paper are distributed according to the group’s or candidate's voting ticket. If you vote “below the line”, you have to number every box.
Once you have completed both ballot papers, place them in the ballot paper envelope and fill in the declaration. Place the ballot paper envelope in the reply-paid envelope and put it in the post straight away.
Where can I return my ballot papers?
You can post your ballot paper and ballot paper envelope in the reply paid envelope provided, or deliver it in person to:front desk, foyer, Town Hall Administration Building, 90-120 Swanston Street, Melbourne
7.30 am - 5.00 pm weekdays plus 7.30 am - 8.00 pm on Thursday, 27 November and 7.30 am - 6.00 pm on Friday, 28 November
or
foyer, Council House, 200 Little Collins Street, Melbourne
7.00 am - 5.30 pm weekdays plus 7.00 am - 8.00 pm on Thursday, 27 November and 7.00 am - 6.00 pm on Friday, 28 November
For your vote to count, it must be received by the Returning Officer by 6.00 pm on Friday, 28 November 2008.
What if I am away or my address has recently changed?
If you will be away and did not request a redirection before 28 October, contact your Returning Officer.What if I haven't received my ballot pack?
If you haven't received your ballot pack by Wednesday, 19 November 2008, call the Returning Officer on (03) 9639 0046.How are votes counted?
The City of Melbourne is unsubdivided and voters vote in two elections at the same time – one for the Leadership Team of the Lord Mayor and Deputy Lord Mayor, and one for seven councillors.For the Leadership Team, votes are counted using preferential counting.
For the seven councillors, votes are counted using proportional representation.
How can I contact the Returning Officer?
The Returning Officer for the Melbourne City Council elections is:Bill Lang
Level 6, Council House
200 Little Collins Street
Melbourne VIC 3000
Phone: (03) 9639 0046
The election office will be open from Wednesday, 22 October 2008.
