Our friendly staff look forward to assisting with your enquiry.
Electoral structure
East Gippsland Shire Council is unsubdivided, with nine councillors.
East Gippsland Shire Council Boundary Map
When is the next Council Election?
The next Council Election will be held on Saturday 26 October 2024. Successful candidates will be elected for a four-year term.
Voting method
The voting system is determined by the Minister for Local Government.
The method of voting for the 2024 election will be by postal ballot.
Is voting compulsory?
Voting is compulsory for all State-enrolled and Council-enrolled voters. If you do not vote, you may get a fine.
Important Note: Some dates (identified with *) may be subject to change due to proposed legislative reforms.
You can read more about the reforms by viewing the Media Release
Friday 30 August 2024, 4pm*
Entitlement date - close of roll.
To be eligible to vote at a Council election, people must be on the State or Council roll by the entitlement date.
Wednesday 18 September 2024*
Election office opens (location to be determined).
Election offices will be open to the public until 6.00 pm Friday 25 October 2024.
Election office opening hours:
9am to 5pm weekdays, except for the last two days before election day when it will close at 8pm on Thursday 24 October and 6pm on Friday 25 October.
Thursday 19 September 2024*
Nominations open.
Candidates must submit their nominations in person to the Election Manager before the close of nominations. Candidate statements and photographs must also be provided to the VEC. The nomination period runs from 19 to 24 September *
Tuesday 24 September 2024, 12pm*
Close of nominations - election period commences.
Candidates must submit their nominations in person to the Election Manager before the close of nominations. The nomination period runs from 19 to 24 September. Once nominations have closed, the ballot will be drawn to determine the ballot paper order.
Monday 7-10 October 2024*
Ballot packs posted.
15-17 days before close of voting, the VEC will post ballot packs to enrolled voters.
Friday 25 October 2024, 6pm
Close of voting.
The election will be undertaken by postal voting.
In postal elections, ballot papers must be completed and posted to the Election Manager no later than the last working day before election day.
Saturday 26 October 2024
Election day - election period ends 6pm.
There is no physical voting on Election Day. All ballot papers must be completed and sent to the Election Manager prior to Election Day. Declaration of successful candidates occurs from Sunday 27 October to Friday 15 November 2024.
Tuesday 19 November 2024 (subject to the date of declaration of results)
Swearing in of Councillors and election of Mayor.
A Special Council Meeting will be held to swear in the members of Council and to elect a Mayor.
Being a councillor provides an exciting challenge and an opportunity to represent your community and play a vital role in shaping the East Gippsland Shire Council.
If you are looking for an opportunity to contribute to the future direction and development of your community, you should consider standing for Council.
To be eligible, you must:
Nominations to become a candidate open on Thursday 19 September 2024 * and close at 12 noon on Tuesday 24 September 2024 *
Find out more information and resource visit Local council candidate resources | Victorian Electoral Commission
MAV Stand for Council
East Gippsland Shire Council has partnered with the Municipal Association of Victoria (MAV) to deliver the 2024 Stand for Council: Community and Candidate Information Sessions.
The Stand for Council program aims to assist councils attract a diverse range of prospective candidates by providing important information regarding the 2024 council elections, the role of council and the responsibilities of being a Councillor. It also aims to build community awareness to understand the important role of voters in delivering local democracy and representation.
The sessions will be held at various metropolitan and non metropolitan locations across Victoria. To register visit Stand for Council | MAV website.
You can attend a session anywhere in the state – you don’t have to attend a local session.
All Victorian sessions and registration information is available on the MAV website.
Find out more about becoming a candidate by visiting the Become a local council candidate | Victorian Electoral Commission.
Regional Stand for Council session
When: Wednesday 24 July 2024, 6.30pm - 8.30pm
Where: Forge Theatre and Arts Hub, 80 McKean St, Bairnsdale
Register: via the MAV website
* Please note that there are capacity limits for in-person attendance and only those who have registered will be able to attend. There will be no registration available on the day of the sessions.
Young People X Stand for Council - Candidate Information Session
Because we know that young people are under-represented on councils, MAV is also running a one off, online session for young people to hear from other young people about being involved in and running for council, and about supports and help to become involved. This session is open to those between 16 - 25 years of age.
When: Tuesday 4 June 2024, 6.00pm - 7.30pm
Where: online via MS Team
Register: via the MAV website
Women X Stand for Council
MAV is hosting a women-focussed information session in partnership with the City of Kingston.
Join face-to face or online and hear from former councillors Bernadene Voss (City of Port Phillip, 2014-2020), Tamara Barth (City of Kingston 2012-2020) and Cr Claudia Nguyen (councillor at City of Yarra, not standing at the 2024 election) about their experiences of being a councillor.
You will also hear from the Australian Women in Local Government Association (ALGWA) who will outline the program of events, support and mentoring they provide to female councillors and other programs that support women such as Pathways to Politics and Women for Election.
When: Wednesday, 26 June 2024, 6:30pm – 8:30pm
Host Council: Kingston City Council
Where: 1230 Nepean Highway, Cheltenham VIC 3192 and online
Register: via the MAV website
First Nations X Stand for Council
MAV is hosting a First Nations focused information session in partnership with the Greater Shepparton City Council.
Date: Thursday, 30 May 2024, 6:30pm – 8:00pm
Host Council: Greater Shepparton City Council
Where: Riverlinks Studios, 70 Welsford Street, Shepparton VIC 3630
Register: via the MAV website
VLGA Information Sessions
The VLGA (Victorian Local Governance Association) is running a program of events in the lead up to the 2024 local government elections to support those running for council.
Standing for Local Government – a guide for candidates standing in the 2024 council elections
When: Friday 17 May 2024, 12pm - 1.30pm
Where: online, via Zoom
Register: via the VLGA website
Local Women Leading Change - a guide for women standing for local government
When: Friday 24 May 2024, 12pm - 1.30pm
Where: online, via Zoom
Register: via the VLGA website
VLGA Connect Election Series
Further sessions targeted at activating youth, as well as culturally and linguistically diverse candidates. Further details will be provided when known.
Method of voting
The method of voting for the 2024 Council Election will be by postal ballot.
Voting in local government general elections may be:
The voting system for all Victorian local councils is set by the Minister for Local Government.
Eligibility to vote
To be eligible to vote there are two types of voters:
You have one vote in East Gippsland Shire Council. If you are a State-enrolled voter, that is the enrolment you use to vote.
State-enrolled voters
You must enrol and vote if you:
For more information, visit Enrolling for local council elections.
Council-enrolled voters
Some ratepayers can apply to become council-enrolled voters in East Gippsland Shire Council if they are:
These are known as Council-enrolled voters.
The rules for Council-enrolled voters have changed ahead of the 2024 council elections. These changes are explained below.
Owner ratepayers
You can apply to enrol in East Gippsland Shire Council if you:
This includes:
Up to two ratepayers can apply to enrol per property, but each person only gets one vote.
Occupier ratepayers
You can apply to enrol in East Gippsland Shire Council if you:
Up to 2 people per property can apply to enrol, but each person only gets one vote.
Corporations
You can apply to enrol to vote on behalf of a corporation if you:
Only one person can apply to enrol as the corporation’s representative.
If you meet the criteria
If you meet any of these criteria, you can contact us on (03) 5153 9500 to apply to enrol.
Once you are enrolled, you must vote for the October 2024 elections and onwards. If you don’t vote, you may get a fine.
Resigning your enrolment
If you don’t want to vote for that property anymore, you can apply to resign your enrolment.
Expiry of enrolment
Occupier ratepayers’ and corporations’ enrolment expires before the next local government general election.
If you want to continue to vote, you must apply to enrol again before the next Local Government General Election (2028).
East Gippsland Shire Council will send you an invitation when it is time to renew your enrolment.
Owner ratepayers’ enrolment does not expire, but they can apply to resign their enrolment.
Silent Voters
If you enrol as a silent voter your enrolled address will not appear on the public voters’ roll. Some people choose to enrol this way as a safety measure.
If you want to enrol this way with Council you need to complete a separate Silent Voter Application Form. You will also need to provide a statutory declaration that explains why having your address on a voters' roll places or would place the personal safety of you or members of your family at risk.
If you are already a silent elector on the state electoral roll you will automatically be made a silent elector on the council roll if the VEC can identify and match your records.
To make sure your address is not shown, you will need to complete and submit a Silent Voter Application Form.
In relation to the October 2024 council elections, be sure to return your completed Silent Voter Application Form before the Council deadline of 5pm on Friday 2 August 2024.
There is also more information about council enrolment on the VEC website at Enrolling for local council elections.
The Election Period (commonly known as Caretaker Mode), is the period starting from the last day that nominations to be a candidate for a Council election can be received, and ends at 6pm on election day. In 2024, this period will run from 12pm Tuesday 24 September* until 6pm Saturday 26 October 2024.
During this period, Council business is conducted in accordance with the Election Period Policy to avoid the use of public resources in a way that may unduly affect the election result, and to minimise Councils making certain types of decisions that may unduly limit the decision-making ability of the incoming Council.
The Election Period Policy ensures that all general elections of the East Gippsland Shire Council are conducted in a manner that is ethical, fair and equitable and are publicly perceived as such.
Council’s Election Period Policy was adopted by Council at the Ordinary Meeting held on 30 April 2024.
Read the:
Election Signage and Electioneering
The display and placement of political advertising and activities on roads, footways and private property is strictly controlled within the Shire of East Gippsland. The requirements are outlined in 4.18 Electoral Signage and Electioneering of the Election Period Policy.
Councillors, like other candidates, must comply with the East Gippsland Planning Scheme and General Local Law requirements regarding electoral signage and electioneering in public places.
Penalty: 10 Penalty Units
East Gippsland Planning Scheme Requirements
Clause 52.05-10 of the East Gippsland Planning Scheme – Signs not requiring a permit Despite any provision in a zone, overlay, or other particular provision of this scheme, a permit is not required to construct or put up for display any of the following signs:
A sign with a display area not exceeding 5 square metres publicising a local educational, cultural, political, religious, social, or recreational event not held for commercial purposes. Only one sign may be displayed on the land, it must not be an animated or internally illuminated sign and it must not be displayed longer than 14 days after the event is held or 3 months, whichever is sooner. A sign publicising a local political event may include information about a candidate for an election.
General Local Law Requirements
Part 6, Division 1, Section 43 – Advertising Signs
A person must not, without a Permit, erect or place an Advertising Sign on any part of a Road, Road Reserve or Council Land or cause or authorise another person to do so.
Both the East Gippsland Planning Scheme and the General Local Law provide for penalties for any breaches detected by authorised officers.
All candidates who nominate in council elections are required to submit an ‘Election Campaign Donation Return’ to the Chief Executive Officer within 40 days after election day.
Candidate returns must detail any gifts, goods or services worth $500 or more received during the donation period for use in connection with their election campaign. This applies to all candidates, whether elected or not, and whether they received campaign donations or not.
The ‘donation period’ is defined as the period beginning 30 days after election day in the previous election and ending 30 days after election day in the current election.
In accordance with the Local Government Act 2020 the Chief Executive Officer must:
View the East Gippsland Shire Council Election Campaign Donation Return Summary.
To apply to become or check if you are a council-enrolled voter in East Gippsland Shire Council, contact us on (03) 5153 9500.
For information about Victorian elections, visit the Victorian Electoral Commission.