One year to go: VEC outlines major changes ahead of 2026 state election
Thursday 27 November 2025
For immediate release
The Victorian Electoral Commission (VEC) has released its draft service plan for the 2026 state election, offering a refreshed approach for voters, candidates, parties and community stakeholders.
With one year remaining until election day on Saturday 28 November 2026, the service plan outlines how the VEC proposes to deliver its biggest election ever.
It also includes several changes to meet increasing demand, ensuring the voting experience is secure and efficient right across Victoria from start to finish.
'Elections today cannot look the same as they did a decade ago,' Electoral Commissioner Sven Bluemmel said.
'This plan sets out the significant changes underway to ensure every Victorian can take part in a fair, accessible and trusted election.'
The report proposes several enhancements to the electoral process, including:
- increasing the number of early voting centres to approximately 220 to meet growing demand
- extending centre opening hours to 8 pm for most days of the early voting period
- broadening the use of electronic roll mark-off to respond to ballot paper demand in real time
- enhancing inclusive voting options with additional mobile voting sites in the community and low-sensory mobile voting locations in every district.
'We are entering a new phase of election delivery,' Mr Bluemmel said.
'This service model is a direct response to community expectations, the growing demand for change, and the recommendations put forward by Parliament's Electoral Matters Committee. It sets the foundation for how we must evolve to meet the challenges of today and tomorrow.'
The full report is available at vec.vic.gov.au/about-us/publications