In a Victorian local council election there are two types of voters:
1. State-enrolled (automatically enrolled to vote in the 2024 HRCC elections).
2. Council-enrolled (must apply to be enrolled and include owner ratepayers, occupier ratepayers and corporation representatives).
You can only vote once in each municipality, no matter how many properties you own or occupy.
You should enrol before Wednesday 7 August 2024.
Voting is compulsory for everyone who is enrolled.
1. State-enrolled voters
If you are on the State electoral roll, you are automatically enrolled to vote in the 2024 council elections for your enrolled address (where you live).
To be eligible to enrol on the State electoral roll you must be:
- 18 years or older
- An Australian citizen
- Have lived at your address in the HRCC municipality for longer than one month.
To check if you are enrolled on the State electoral roll or for more information visit the VEC website
There is no limit to the number of State-enrolled voters for any one property.
2. Council-enrolled voters (ratepayers)
Some ratepayers can apply to become council-enrolled voters in n the HRCC municipality if they are:
- A property owner, occupier or represent a corporation
- 18 years or older on election day (26 October 2024)
- Not a state-enrolled voter within the HRCC municipality.
The rules for council-enrolled voters have changed ahead of the 2024 council elections.
These changes are explained below.
2.1 Owner ratepayers
You can apply to enrol in HRCC elections if you:
- Own property and pay rates in the council area
- Are 18 years or older on election day (26 October 2024)
- Are not a State-enrolled voter who lives in the HRCC municipality.
This includes:
- Australian citizens who own a property in the HRCC municipality but do not live in the area (for example an investment or a holiday home)
- non-citizens over 18 years who own a property and live in the HRCC municipality.
- Up to two (2) owner ratepayers can apply to enrol per property, but each person only gets one vote.
To enrol, please complete the Owner-ratepayer-ongoing-Application-for-enrolment-form.pdf(PDF, 64KB) and email to elections@hrcc.vic.gov.au.
Owner or Occupier Ratepayer - Resignation of Enrolment- please complete the Owner-or-occupier-ratepayer-Resignation-of-enrolment-form.pdf(PDF, 57KB) and email to elections@hrcc.vic.gov.au.
2.2 Occupier ratepayers
You can apply to enrol in the HRCC elections if you:
- Pay rates for a property that you occupy but do not own
- Are 18 years or older on election day (26 October 2024)
- Are not a state-enrolled voter.
This includes where you operate a business out of a commercial property.
Up to two (2) occupier ratepayers per property can apply to enrol, but each person only gets one vote.
To enrol, please complete the Occupier-ratepayer-Application-for-enrolment-form.pdf(PDF, 67KB) and email to elections@hrcc.vic.gov.au.
NOTE: Occupier ratepayers must reapply before every general council election.
Owner or Occupier Ratepayer - Resignation of Enrolment - please complete the Owner-or-occupier-ratepayer-Resignation-of-enrolment-form.pdf(PDF, 57KB) and email to elections@hrcc.vic.gov.au.
2.3 Corporations
You can apply to enrol to vote on behalf of a corporation if you:
- Are a director or company secretary of a corporation that pays rates (either as an owner or an occupier) in the council area
- Have consented to being appointed as the corporation’s representative
- Are not already a state-enrolled voter or council-enrolled voter for the HRCC elections.
Only one (1) person can apply to enrol as the corporation’s representative.
To enrol, please complete the Corporation-owner-or-occupier-Appointment-of-voting-representative-form.pdf(PDF, 71KB) and email to elections@hrcc.vic.gov.au
Corporate Representative - Revocation of appointment - please complete the Corporate-representative-Revocation-of-appointment-form.pdf(PDF, 63KB) and email to elections@hrcc.vic.gov.au.
Corporate Representative - Resignation of appointment - please complete the Corporate-representative-Resignation-of-appointment-form.pdf(PDF, 59KB) and email to elections@hrcc.vic.gov.au.
NOTE: Corporate representatives must reapply before every general council election.