Murrindindi Shire Council Kinglake Ward by-election
We’re holding a by-election in Murrindindi Shire Council, Kinglake Ward in December after Councillor Jodi Adams resigned.
Candidates
Nominations:
- open on Monday 19 October
- close at 12 noon on Tuesday 27 October.
How to nominate
To nominate, you must:
- complete the Victorian Government's free Local government candidate training. You must have completed this training within 2 years of Saturday 5 December 2026.
- complete a nomination form
- submit your completed nomination form in person at the election office. Call us on 03 8620 1316 to make an appointment.
- pay the $250 nomination fee.
Candidate Helper
Candidate Helper is our online tool that helps you prepare your:
- nomination forms
- candidate statement and questionnaire
- photograph.
Candidate statement and questionnaire
To tell voters about your background, qualifications and what you stand for, you can submit:
- a statement of up to 200 words
- answers to the candidate questionnaire
- a photo of yourself.
This information will be publicly available on this website until we declare the election results. Your photo and statement are also sent to voters in the postal ballot pack.
You must submit your statement, photo and questionnaire before 12 noon on Tuesday 27 October.
Information session
Join our online information session at 6 pm on Wednesday 14 October to learn more about becoming a candidate in this election. We'll hold this session using Microsoft Teams.
Register for information session
Joining the info session
You can join a Microsoft Teams meeting from any:
- PC or Mac computer
- smartphone
- tablet device.
You don't need a Microsoft account to join. For help visit Microsoft support.
Who can be a candidate?
Read our Becoming a local council candidate page for the rules about who can be a candidate.
Campaign donations
By law, candidates must disclose donations and gifts they receive in the lead up to a by-election. For more information, visit the Local Government Inspectorate.
More information
To learn about the nominations process you can:
- read about becoming a local council candidate
- download a candidate handbook.
Enrolment
The deadline to enrol this by-election was 4 pm on Wednesday 23 September.
Am I enrolled?
If you are a state-enrolled voter in Kinglake Ward, you must vote.
If you are a council-enrolled voter in Kinglake Ward, you must vote.
Contact Murrindindi Shire Council on 03 5772 0333 to check if you're a council-enrolled voter.
I'm away or have changed address
This election is by post. We'll mail your ballot pack to your enrolled address, or your postal address if you have one listed.
We can redirect your ballot pack to a different address if:
- you'll be away when ballot packs are mailed (from Monday 16 November)
- your mailing address has changed since the roll closed (Wednesday 23 September).
If you moved within or out of Kinglake Ward since the close of roll you must vote or risk a fine.
You can use our online form to redirect your ballot pack.
Applications close at 5 pm on Monday 19 October.
Voting
Voting in this by-election is by post.
We'll mail ballot packs to all enrolled voters from Monday 16 November.
Your ballot pack will contain:
- a ballot paper
- candidate statements
- a ballot paper envelope (for your vote to go in)
- a reply-paid envelope (for your ballot paper envelope to go in)
- a multi-language leaflet with translated instructions on how to vote.
I'm away or have changed address
This election is by post. We'll mail your ballot pack to your enrolled address, or your postal address if you have one listed.
We can redirect your ballot pack to a different address if:
- you'll be away when ballot packs are mailed (from Monday 16 November)
- your mailing address has changed since the roll closed on Wednesday 23 September.
If you moved within or out of Kinglake Ward since the close of roll you must vote or we may fine you.
You can use our online form to redirect your ballot pack.
Applications close at 5 pm on Monday 19 October.
How to vote
Follow the instructions in your ballot pack to complete your vote.
Make sure you return it before 6 pm on Friday 4 December. You can post it back to us or drop it off at the election office.
Who will vote
You must vote if you're enrolled in Kinglake Ward when the roll closes at 4 pm on Wednesday 23 September.
If you don't vote, you may get a fine.
To check if you're eligible to vote, see the 'Enrolment' section of this page or call us on 131 832.
Large print or braille ballot packs
If you’re blind or have low vision, you can register to get your ballot pack in large print or braille.
You only need to register once. If you've registered for past elections, you don’t need to register again.
To register, you can:
- call 03 8620 1314 from 9 am to 5 pm, Monday to Friday
- email BrailleAndLargePrint@vec.vic.gov.au
Registrations close at 5 pm on Tuesday 20 October.
Murrindindi Shire Council, Kinglake Ward by-election
Vote by post by Friday 4 December
Voting
Ballot packs will be mailed to voters enrolled in the Murrindindi Shire Council, Kinglake Ward by-election from Monday 16 November 2026. Return your completed ballot material by mail ASAP or hand deliver it to the election manager by the close of voting at 6 pm on Friday 4 December 2026.
If you will be away
If you will be away during the voting period (Monday 16 November 2026 to Friday 4 December 2026), or your address has changed since Wednesday 23 September 2026, you can request your ballot pack to be redirected by completing an online redirection form at vec.vic.gov.au/redirections, or call 131 832.
Please include the address for redirection. Each voter requesting redirection must sign their request. Requests for redirection must be received by Monday 19 October 2026.
Alternatively, you can go to the election office to vote in person, from 10 am on Wednesday 28 October 2026. The Murrindindi Shire Council election office is at:
Yea Council Chambers
15 The Semi Circle
Yea
Large print and braille ballot papers
Large print or braille ballot papers are available for voters who are blind or have low vision - please register by 5 pm on Tuesday 20 October 2026. To register, call 03 8620 1314 during business hours.
How to nominate as a candidate
To nominate as a candidate, you must:
- be an Australian citizen and enrolled on the voters roll for Murrindindi Shire Council and
- be eligible to become a councillor should you be elected and
- have completed the mandatory candidate training before lodging your nomination with the election manager.
To nominate, complete the nomination form and lodge it with the election manager together with the $250 nomination fee. Nomination forms can be lodged by appointment during business hours from Monday 19 October 2026 until 12 noon on Tuesday 27 October 2026 at the election office.
Visit vec.vic.gov.au for more information and to pre-complete your nomination form using the online Candidate Helper.
If you use the online Candidate Helper, print your pre-completed form and make an appointment to lodge it with the election manager along with the nomination fee.
To make a nomination appointment, call 03 8620 1316 from Monday 19 October 2026.
Candidate information session
A candidate information session will be hosted online using Microsoft Teams at 6 pm on Wednesday 14 October 2026.
There is a link to register for the live stream on vec.vic.gov.au.
Candidate information kits containing nomination forms and other electoral information will be available online and from the election manager.
Nominations close 12 noon on Tuesday 27 October 2026.
State-enrolled voters can register for free VoterAlert SMS and email reminders at vec.vic.gov.au/voteralert.