The Victorian Electoral Commission (VEC) has called for changes to local government legislation following its report on the conduct of the 2024 council elections, which saw more than 4.3 million Victorians cast their votes.
Describing the poll as the most complex in the state’s history, the VEC reported the lowest informality rate on record but said broad reform is needed to ensure Victoria’s electoral system continues to uphold transparency, fairness, and integrity in the face of emerging challenges.
The report includes 10 key recommendations and 27 operational commitments. Among the proposals are measures to strengthen safeguards against postal vote fraud, explore real-time publication of provisional results, and expand the candidate questionnaire to disclose party memberships, giving voters clearer insight into candidates’ political affiliations.
Electoral Commissioner Sven Bluemmel said the 2024 elections demonstrated both the strength and adaptability of Victoria’s electoral system. “The 2024 council elections were the most complex to date and they were successfully delivered,” he said. “Our focus is on the integrity of elections. When issues arose, our people and systems caught them quickly and responded rapidly.”
Mr Bluemmel said the VEC remained focused on continuous improvement amid increasing logistical and integrity challenges. “We are committed to continuous improvement in the delivery of elections,” he said. “I look forward to providing updates in future election service plans and reports on the progress of our commitments.”
The report emphasises the need for reform to maintain public confidence in Victoria’s democratic process as technology, population growth, and security risks reshape how elections are conducted.
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