To become a candidate in a Council Election or by-election, you must be enrolled on the voters’ roll for the election.
Yarriambiack Shire Council is divided into 3 wards, Dunmunkle, Hopetoun and Warracknabeal, with 2 Councillors representing each ward.
The VEC provide information for candidates and parties on becoming a candidate in a Council Election or by-election.
This covers:
- Handbooks and forms
- Campaigning
- Funding and donations
Mandatory Candidate Training
To become a candidate for a local council election you must complete the mandatory candidate training. The training will help you understand the role and responsibilities of being a councillor.
To strengthen candidates' understanding of councillor roles and responsibilities, this candidate training has been reviewed and updated in July 2024. This updated module also includes information to help in understanding conflicts of interest, the required code of conduct, and what support is available to help incoming Councillors perform their role.
Qualifications
To be a candidate for a local council election, you must:
- Be an Australian citizen or an eligible British subject referred to in section 48(1)(a) of the Constitution Act 1975
- Be aged 18 years of age or older
- Be enrolled on the voters' roll for the council in which you wish to stand
- Have completed the mandatory Local Government Candidate Training (the candidate training was reviewed and updated in July 2024, you are encouraged to complete the updated training even if you've previously done it and still have a valid certificate)
- Not be disqualified from being a Councillor
The Election Manager appointed by the VEC will reject a nomination from a person who is not enrolled on the voters’ roll for the election.
Disqualifications
You cannot be a candidate for any of the following reasons:
- You are an undischarged bankrupt
- You have property that is subject to control under the law relating to bankruptcy
- You are a member of council staff of the council. You can take leave from this role in order to nominate
- You have been convicted of any of the criminal offences referred to in section 34(2) of the Act
- You are a councillor with another council, including interstate councils
- You are member of an Australian Parliament, including the Federal Parliament or a Member of Parliament in any state or territory of the Commonwealth of Australia
- You are employed by a Federal or State Member of Parliament as a Ministerial Officer, a Parliamentary Adviser or an Electorate Officer. You can take leave from these roles in order to nominate
or
- You are otherwise incapable of becoming or continuing to be a Councillor.
Further details are outlined in the Local Government Act 2020.
How to Nominate
To nominate, you must:
- Complete your nomination paperwork - you can complete the nomination paperwork by one of the following methods:
1. Use the online Candidate Helper tool which guides candidates through each part of the Nomination Form, candidate statement, photograph and questionnaire. A link to the Candidate Helper will be available on the VEC website 2-3 weeks before the opening of nominations.
2. Get a paper Nomination Form from the VEC by contacting the Candidate Services team on 03 8620 1316 and request a Candidate Information Kit.
3. Pick up a paper copy of the Candidate Information Kit from the election office (Yarriambiack Shire Council) after it opens on Monday 09 September 2024.
- Make an appointment at the election office in your council - you have two options for booking an appointment:
1. By contacting the VEC Candidate Services team on 03 8620 1316 from Tuesday 20 August 2024.
2. Contacting the election office directly from Monday 09 September 2024.
- Submit your nomination paperwork in person at your appointment
- Declare that you have completed the mandatory Local Government Candidate Training within two years of election day
- Pay the $250 nomination fee - you must pay your nomination fee of $250 at your appointment. The fee must be paid either by cash or by a check drawn from a bank, building society or credit union made payable to the Victorian Electoral Commision. The VEC cannot accept online or electronic payments, personal cheques or money orders.
You will be refunded the nomination fee if you:
- are declared elected.
- receive at least 4% of the total formal first preference votes in the council or ward you nominated in.
If you retire or withdraw your nomination, your fee will not be refunded.
Candidate Information Sessions
MAV Stand for Council Information Session
Date: Wednesday, 14 August 2024
Wimmera Southern Mallee: (includes following Councils: Hindmarsh, Ballarat, Hepburn, Moorabool, Pyrenees, Ararat, Horsham, Northern Grampians, West Wimmera, Yarriambiack)
Host Council: Hindmarsh Shire Council
Location: Nhill Memorial Community Centre, 77-79 Nelson St, Nhill VIC 3418
Room: The Main Hall
Phone: 03 5391 4444
In-person check in: 6:00pm – 6:30pm
Session Time: 6:30pm – 8:30pm
Register: Non-Metro Sessions - 2024 Stand for Council - Community and Candidate Information Sessions (cventevents.com)
Become a Local Candidate Information Sessions were held by the Yarriambiack Shire Council in July 2024 in the Warracknabeal, Hopetoun and Dunmunkle wards. If you were unable to attend one of these sessions, you can view the presentation below.
Election Campaign Donation Returns
The Local Government Act 2020 s306 requires all candidates in a Council Election to submit an election campaign donation return to the Chief Executive Officer within 40 days after election day.
The Chief Executive Officer must then submit a written report to the Minister for Local Government within 14 days advising the names of the candidates in the election and whether or not they submitted a return.
A summary of each election campaign donation return must be made available on Council’s website and include the name of the candidate and, if a gift is included in the return, the name of the person who made the gift and the total value of the gift received from that person.
View a summary of the election campaign donation returns below.
Election campaign donation returns are available for inspection at Council’s office, 34 Lyle Street, Warracknabeal during office hours for a period of 4 years from the date that is given under section 306.
