Information for scrutineers

Scrutineers help us deliver fair and transparent elections by observing election activities. 

The role of scrutineers 

Candidates are not permitted in election venues to observe election activities. Instead, candidates appoint scrutineers to observe these activities and represent their interests. 
As a scrutineer, you play a key role in delivering free and fair elections. You contribute to the election’s integrity, fairness and transparency, and help to build public trust. 

You may observe activities involving:

  • vote issuing
  • declaration envelopes
  • ballot boxes
  • ballot material processing and transfer
  • counting activities. 

Scrutineers can also challenge some activities. 

You must always follow election officials' instructions. If you don't, you may be asked to leave an election venue. 

Scrutineer handbook 

The Scrutineer handbook includes important information about your rights to observe, scrutinise and challenge election activities.

The 2026 state election scrutineer handbook will be available on this page in October.

Being appointed as a scrutineer

As a scrutineer, it's important to understand the appointment process. Candidates are responsible for appointing their scrutineers.

There is a limit to the number of scrutineers that can attend an activity (this is called the scrutineer quota). 

You can only observe activities for your candidate’s district or region. To represent another candidate in an election, that candidate needs to appoint you separately. 

Learn more about appointing scrutineers

 

Key information for scrutineers

  • Eligibility

    You can't be a scrutineer if you are: 

    • a candidate at the election (unless you’re observing a recount for a district election that you’re not a candidate in)
    • working for the VEC at the election, even casually
    • under the age of 18.
  • Before observing an election

    Before you can observe any election activities, you must be officially appointed by your candidate. 

    You must complete an appointment and declaration of scrutineer form, which will be available shortly. Your candidate must sign it first, then you sign it at the election office in front of an election official.

    During the election, activities can happen at different venues during different stages. You need a separate appointment and declaration of scrutineer form for each venue you attend.

    You cannot attend a counting venue without a completed appointment and declaration form for that venue.  

    See our appointing a scrutineer page for more details.

     
  • Observing state elections

    Your role can change depending on the election activity you attend. You can observe and scrutinise most election activities. Some can also be challenged.

    Activities that scrutineers can observe and scrutinise Are formal challenges allowed?
    Dispatching postal ballot packs No
    Exhibiting and sealing of ballot boxes No
    Issuing ballot papers by an ordinary issuing officer No
    Issuing declaration votes by a declaration issuing officer No
    Recording preferences by an election official aiding an elector who requires assistance to vote Yes
    Recording preferences by an election official aiding an elector who is using telephone assisted voting, excluding the registration of an elector to use telephone assisted voting Yes
    Receiving and admitting or rejecting declaration envelopes No
    Opening admitted declaration envelopes and extracting ballot papers No
    Opening and checking sealed ballot boxes or parcels of ballot papers Yes
    Extracting and sorting early and postal votes during the ‘authorised period’ within a ‘restricted area’ No
    Recording preferences by an election official who is transposing braille ballot paper preferences onto a standard ballot paper for counting Yes
    Exchanging ballot papers between district and/or region elections No
    Amalgamating ballot papers prior to a preference distribution No
    Preparing batches of ballot papers for data entry No
    Statistical counts for information purposes only, such as a two-candidate-preferred count (or three-candidate-preferred count) and two-party-preferred count No
    Counting, rechecking and distributing ballot papers, including checking ballot papers to determine formality Yes
    Counting and distributing ballot papers, including checking ballot papers to determine formality, during a recount Yes

    While observing and scrutinising activities that allow formal challenges, you might disagree with the decision of an election official. If this happens, you can challenge the decision. We’ll review your challenge and make a final decision.

    The scrutineer handbook has more information on what you can expect to see during election activities. It will also help you understand when you can challenge a decision and how we will respond.

    The 2026 state election scrutineer handbook will be available from this page in October.

     

     

  • What you need to do
    • Bring a hard copy of your completed appointment and declaration of scrutineer form to an election official at the scrutineer registration desk.
    • Bring multiple forms if you have been appointed by more than one candidate at the same venue. Make sure all forms you bring shows the correct venue.
    • Sign the declaration in front of the election official at the scrutineer registration desk. You will not be allowed to enter the venue if your form is not filled in correctly.
    • Join the scrutineer briefings to learn about your rights and responsibilities, as well as the briefing about the election activity you are observing. These briefings are mandatory for all scrutineers.
    • Only enter an ‘activity area’ when ballot material for your candidate’s election is being processed.
    • Always keep your lanyard or identification visible. This identifies you as a scrutineer and shows the candidate you represent, as well the electorates you’re registered to observe.
    • Follow all venue rules, and all instructions from election managers and officials.
    • Behave courteously and professionally towards staff. 
  • What to avoid

    You must not:

    • interfere with or attempt to influence any voters
    • communicate with anyone in the venue except when necessary for your scrutineer role
    • touch ballot papers or declaration envelopes
    • observe activities you are not registered and signed in for
    • communicate or socialise with election staff during activities or breaks
    • wear any party or candidate logos or paraphernalia if you are observing voting
    • behave in a way that distracts election officials from performing their duties. This includes talking loudly, talking on mobile phones, or not giving election officials enough space to perform their duties
    • eat or drink around activities, you should only eat or drink in designated areas away from the ballot papers
    • leave any rubbish around the venue
    • obstruct or delay any activities or behave in a disorderly manner
    • use your phone or any other device to record or photograph ballot papers, declarations, forms or VEC staff members, including election managers and election officials.  

     

    • News and updates for scrutineers

    Your candidate will have all the information about venues, dates and schedules. 

    If there are any changes, we will notify candidates directly. It is your candidate’s responsibility to share all activity details communicated to them with you.  

    There are additional entry and secrecy requirements that apply in the restricted area on election day. These include a declaration that is required to be completed and a requirement to surrender devices during this time. These are detailed in the scrutineer handbook which will be available from this page in October.

     

    Other scrutineer resources