Voter information

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Voting in local council elections is compulsory.

Registered voters will receive a ballot pack in the mail in early October, which must be mailed or delivered by 6pm on 25 October 2024.

In a Victorian local council election there are two types of voters:

  • State-enrolled voter
  • Council-enrolled voter

You can only vote once in each municipality, no matter how many properties you own or occupy.

State-enrolled voters

If you are on the state roll you are automatically enrolled to vote in the 2024 council elections for your enrolled address (where you live).

If your address on the state electoral roll is in Swan Hill Rural City, you must vote in the Swan Hill Rural City council election. If you don’t vote, the VEC may issue you a fine.

You must enrol and vote if you:

  • are 18 years or older
  • are an Australian citizen
  • have lived at your address for longer than one month.

Check your enrolment, update your details or enrol for the first time, visit the Victorian Electoral Commission website.

Council-enrolled voters

Some ratepayers can apply to become council-enrolled voters in Swan Hill Rural City if they are:

  • are 18 years or older
  • a property owner, occupier or represent a corporation
  • not a State-enrolled voter within the Swan Hill Rural City area. 

If you fit into this category, you will need to apply to enrol with Council. See below for information to assist with applying and application forms are available.

Owner ratepayers

You can apply to enrol in Swan Hill Rural City if you:

  • own property and pay rates in the council area
  • are 18 or older
  • are not a state-enrolled voter who lives in Swan Hill Rural City.

This includes:

  • Australian citizens who own a property in Swan Hill Rural City but do not live in the area (for example an investment or a holiday home)
  • non-citizens over 18 who own a property and live in Swan Hill Rural City.

Up to 2 ratepayers can apply to enrol per property, but each person only gets one vote.

In previous elections property owners who didn’t live in the area would be automatically enrolled. Now you must apply if you want to vote in the 2024 and future local council elections and by-elections. This is a once off application process.

Occupier ratepayers

You can apply to enrol in Swan Hill Rural City if you:

  • pay rates for a property that you occupy but do not own
  • are 18 or older
  • are not a state-enrolled voter.

Up to 2 people per property can apply to enrol, but each person only gets one vote.

Once you are enrolled, you must vote for the October 2024 elections.  You will need to reapply at every general council election.

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 Swan Hill Rural City 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 Swan Hill Rural City.

Only one person can apply to enrol as the corporation’s representative.

Once you are enrolled, you must vote for the October 2024 elections.  You will need to reapply at every general council election.

If you meet any of these criteria, you can download and complete the appropriate application form below. Once you are enrolled, you must vote for the October 2024 elections and onwards. If you don’t vote, you may be fined by the Victorian Electoral Commission.

Owner ratepayer – Application for enrolment(PDF, 88KB)
Occupier ratepayer – Application for enrolment(PDF, 91KB)
Corporation owner or occupier – Appointment of voting representative(PDF, 104KB)

All sections of the form must be complete in order for the form to be accepted. Forms MUST be signed in person and can not have a typed name. See the back of the form for instructions on signing.

Return completed form to Council before August.

Email
Post
Swan Hill Rural City Council
PO Box 488
Swan Hill
VIC 3585
In-person 

Customer service

45 Splatt Street
Swan Hill
VIC 3585

72 Herbert Street
Robinvale
VIC 3549

View our opening hours

Resigning your enrolment

If you don’t want to vote for that property anymore, you can apply to resign your enrolment.

Hide your address on the voters roll (silent voter)

Election candidates (people running for council) can request a copy of the voters roll to help them campaign. If you wish to suppress your address in the council voters roll, you need to apply to Council.

Download and complete the Silent voter request form(PDF, 72KB)

You will also need to make a statutory declaration outlining the reasons why having your address shown on a voters' roll places or would place the personal safety of you or members of your family at risk. 

Return your completed form and statutory declaration to Council before August.

Email
Post
Swan Hill Rural City Council
PO Box 488
Swan Hill
VIC 3585
In-person 

Customer service

45 Splatt Street
Swan Hill
VIC 3585

72 Herbert Street
Robinvale
VIC 3549

View our opening hours

Your application will be assessed and you’ll be notified of the outcome.