Authority granted for postal vote contingency

September 30, 2020

The Victorian Electoral Commission (VEC) has been provided the authority to extend the postal voting timeline for the current Victorian local council elections if necessary to ensure that voter participation and election results are not affected by any possible mail delivery delays.  

Seventy-six of Victoria’s 79 local councils* are having elections in October and all are being conducted by post.  

Electoral Commissioner, Warwick Gately, welcomes the changes as an  appropriate contingency option to  respond  to  community concerns about extended mail delivery timelines arising from the COVID-19 pandemic.  

“The VEC is engaging regularly with Australia Post and will be using the priority paid mail service for all postal ballots mailed and returned, but I accept there may be some delays,” Mr Gately says. 

“The strict timelines for the mailing and receipt of ballot packs is prescribed by law. The authority provided to me by the regulatory amendments allows me – if required – to mitigate the impact that any possible delays could have on the integrity of the elections.”  

“I will not risk voters being deprived of the right to vote. This action doesn’t mean the timelines will change, just that they may be changed if there is any evidence that delays in the postal network are impacting the integrity of the elections.”  

*The following councils are under administration and will not be having elections this year: Casey City Council, South Gippsland Shire Council and Whittlesea City Council. 

More information

Further information on enrolment is available by calling 1300 805 478 or at vec.vic.gov.au, where voters can also sign up to the free VoterAlert service to receive important election reminders by SMS and email.