2026 Electoral Act amendments

• The electoral roll will now close at 8 pm on the day the writ for an election is issued. The writ is the legal document that officially starts the election process.
• For the 2026 state election, voters must enrol or update their enrolment details by 8 pm on Tuesday 3 November (Melbourne Cup Day).

Check your enrolment details and sign up for free VoterAlert email and SMS reminders about enrolment and voting.

We will complete a full distribution of preferences in all 88 Legislative Assembly districts to ensure the final 2CP margin is accurate.

• The close of all types of candidate nominations is now 6 days after the issue of writs.
• For the 2026 state election, the close of all types of candidate nominations is 9 November 2026.

• A Registered Political Party (RPP) can now withdraw the nomination of a candidate before nominations close.
• To do this, the RPP must lodge a notice with the VEC, provide written notice to the candidate, and confirm the candidate is aware the party intends to withdraw their endorsement.

• Early voting cannot start earlier than 10 days before election day.
• For the 2026 state election, early voting cannot start earlier than 18 November 2026.

• There are new rules to regulate which kinds of electoral material need to be authorised.
• The requirement to include printer details has been removed for electoral material, but remains for how-to-vote cards (both registered and unregistered, and both printed and electronic). 

• Nominations for party-endorsed and independent candidates, as well as Legislative Council group registration close at 12 noon, 6 days after the writ is issued.
• Registration for How-to-vote card (HTVC) will open before group voting ticket registration closes.
• Candidates submitting Legislative Council HTVC are encouraged to wait until group voting ticket registration has closed before lodging their material.

• The deadline to register a political party has been brought forward by 60 days. Political party registration will now close 180 days before a general election.
• Groups that want to register a new political party for the 2026 state election, or existing registered parties seeking to change their name or logo, should submit their application by Monday 1 June 2026.
• Applications cannot be processed during a state election period or before the writ is returned although groups can still prepare and submit applications during this time.
• Party applications that do not meet Victoria’s registration requirements may be refused.
• To reduce the risk of misleading voters, parties cannot use a name, logos or abbreviation that closely resemble those of another registered political party from the previous 10 years.

For more information about the registration process, please contact us at rppregistration@vec.vic.gov.au.

• Silent electors will have their address removed from the public electoral roll, and where possible, from documents current or previously published by the VEC.
• If a supplementary election is held following a failed election, the electoral roll will not be updated. However, if you become a silent elector after the close of the roll of the failed election and before the day the writ is issued for the supplementary election, your address will be removed from the roll of the supplementary election.