Election information sessions

Recent High Court decision - Hopper & Anor v State of Victoria

This page, including linked files, is under review following a recent High Court decision affecting Victoria’s political finance laws.

The information on this page may be impacted by this decision and may not be accurate.

We'll make these updates as soon as we can.

Read our statement on this matter

2026 state election webinar series

We're hosting election information sessions to help candidates, political parties and those supporting them to confidently prepare for the 2026 state election.

Whether you're nominating for the first time or if you've been a candidate before, these one-hour sessions are designed to make the journey clearer.

Why attend?

  • Have your questions answered by our experts
  • Get practical guidance from each session and topic
  • Learn the processes you’ll be working with during the election
  • Hear about initiatives and changes for the 2026 state election
  • Prepare for state election with confidence
  • Avoid common errors during the election timeline

These information sessions will be recorded and available to view online ahead of the election.

Register below to secure your spot.

Election information sessions will be held on 6 topics:

  • Political finance

    Our political finance information sessions are under review. This follows a recent High Court decision affecting Victoria's political finance laws. Registrations for our political finance sessions are on hold. We will make updates to the sessions as soon as we can.

  • Nominations

    A step-by-step guide to nominating as a candidate, including the forms, deadlines and some common errors.

    Learn about:

    • who can stand for state Parliament
    • how to submit your nomination
    • key deadlines
    • what candidates and political parties need to prepare.

    12 noon Saturday 4 July
    Register

    1 pm Thursday 17 September
    Register

  • How-to-vote-cards (Legislative Assembly district elections)

    Understand the Legislative Assembly district elections how-to-vote-card registration process, requirements, approvals and timelines.

    We'll cover:

    • how to lodge how-to-vote card applications
    • the different types of how-to-vote cards
    • issues that can lead to an application being refused registration
    • how registered how-to-vote cards are published.

    12 noon Saturday 18 July
    Register

    1 pm Thursday 24 September
    Register

  • How-to-vote-cards (Legislative Council region elections)

    A deeper look at Legislative Council region elections how-to-vote cards for upper house elections, including:

    • lodging requirements
    • types of how-to-vote cards and registration rules.

    We'll also cover:

    • group registration
    • group voting tickets
    • how the law prescribes the region ballot paper.

    6 pm Thursday 7 May
    Register

    12 noon Saturday 1 August
    Register

    1 pm Thursday 8 October
    Register

  • Campaigning, complaints and regulation

    Campaign confidently and compliantly. What you can and can't do while campaigning, how we handle and process complaints, and what to expect if an issue is raised.

    This session will explain:

    • authorisation rules for electoral campaign material
    • advertising requirements
    • signage requirements outside voting centres
    • safe campaigning
    • complaint and escalation processes
    • our key roles on‑the‑ground during early voting and on election day to promote and support compliance requirements.

    6 pm Thursday 21 May
    Register

    12 noon Saturday 15 August
    Register

    1 pm Thursday 15 October
    Register

  • Election operations

    What happens during voting and counting? A look at how early voting, mobile voting, election day and the counting period work, so you know what to expect.

    Get a clear overview of:

    • voting processes
    • restricted zone requirements
    • scrutineering
    • centralised and local count plans
    • two-candidate preferred and election result publication
    • recounts and challenges.

    6 pm Thursday 4 June
    Register

    12 noon Saturday 29 August 
    Register

    1 pm Thursday 22 October
    Register