Voter information

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 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.

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.

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.

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