Local council elections

Local councils make decisions about local issues, for example:

  • sporting facilities and recreation reserves
  • libraries and community centres
  • animal registrations
  • rubbish and recycling collection.

When are the next local council elections?

The next local council elections will be held in October 2024 for every local council except Moira Shire Council.

Moira Shire Council was dismissed by an Act of Parliament in March 2023. The next election for this council will be in October 2028.

Voting

Voting in council elections may be:

  • postal – voters in the area receive a ballot pack by mail
  • attendance – voters in the area go to a voting centre to vote.

The voting system for all Victorian local councils is set by the Minister for Local Government. We will let you know the method for your council before an election.

If you own more than one property in a council area, you only get one vote.

Enrolling and voting in council elections

In a council election there are 2 types of voters:

  • State-enrolled voters
  • Council-enrolled voters.

State-enrolled voters

You must vote in your local council election if you are on the state roll by 4 pm on the day the roll closes. If you do not vote, you may get a fine.

To find out if you are on the state roll, go to Check my enrolment

Council-enrolled voters

It is currently not compulsory for council-enrolled voters to vote, except in Melbourne City Council

Council-enrolled voters include people such as ratepayers who qualify to be automatically enrolled by their council or have applied to council to be enrolled. To learn more about council-enrolled voters read Enrolling for local council elections

Upcoming changes to council enrolment

Changes to the law mean it will be compulsory for council-enrolled voters to vote at the October 2024 local council elections. If you are on the council roll when it closes at 4 pm on Friday 30 August 2024 you must vote. If you do not vote you may receive a fine.

For more information read Enrolling for local council elections

Who you elect

In a local council election, you are voting for people to become councillors.

Depending on your council, you may be voting for:

  • several people from the whole council area to represent you (an unsubdivided council)
  • several people from the council area to represent your section of the community (multi-councillor wards)
    or
  • one person from the council area to represent your section of the community (single councillor wards).

To check the structure of your council, look up local council profiles.

After all the councillors have been elected, they decide who will act as mayor (except in Melbourne City Council).

Melbourne City Council

Voting is compulsory for everyone enrolled in Melbourne City Council. 

Who you elect

In Melbourne City Council elections, you elect:

  • the Lord Mayor and Deputy Lord Mayor (also known as the leadership team)
  • 9 councillors.