As the final day of voting in the Victorian local council elections wraps up, the Victorian Electoral Commission (VEC) is gearing up for the next crucial steps in determining the results. Ballot packs were distributed to over 4.4 million voters beginning Monday, 7 October, and by Thursday, a significant 61.33% had been returned. The window for returning postal votes closes at 6 pm today, with votes mailed before the deadline being accepted until 12 noon on Friday, 1 November.
The 2020 elections saw a statewide turnout rate of 81.47%, and while it’s too early to predict the final turnout for 2024, the number is expected to be confirmed once all postal votes are counted. This year’s results will reflect any shifts in voter engagement, with the final figures becoming clearer by the end of the postal vote receipt period.
The VEC, led by Electoral Commissioner Sven Bluemmel, acknowledged some hiccups regarding the non-receipt of ballot packs and issues with voter addresses. However, over 100,000 replacement ballot packs were delivered, many of which were sent to alternative addresses since the roll’s closure.
The extraction of ballot papers from envelopes is set to begin tomorrow, with the actual vote counting scheduled to start on Monday. Bluemmel reassured voters that counting will take place locally within each council wherever feasible.
As for the timeline, the VEC expects all elections to be declared by Friday, 15 November. However, results will be provisional until official ceremonies are held between 7 and 15 November. Uncontested elections in 42 councils, where the number of nominations matched the available vacancies, did not require voting. These will also be declared along with the remaining wards.
In Yarriambiack Shire, all three wards were uncontested, with six candidates elected unopposed. The official declaration for the council is expected on Monday, 28 October.
For the latest results, voters are encouraged to check the VEC website, where provisional outcomes will be published as soon as available. The 2024 Victorian council elections mark another chapter in the state’s local governance, with the VEC set to manage the process until the final declarations are made.
This year’s elections may have come with a few bumps, but it’s business as usual for Victoria’s electoral machinery.
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