Council elections 2024

Information for candidates

Community and Candidate Information session - Wednesday 29 May 2024 

If you are interested in becoming a candidate in the next Cardinia Shire Council election or you're a community member wanting to know more about this process, please attend this information session: 

Date: Wednesday 29 May 2024 
Time: Check in from 6pm to 6.30pm; session time: 6.30pm to 8.30pm session 
Event host: City of Casey
Region: Metropolitan South (for community members and candidates from the municipalities of Cardinia Shire, Casey, Frankston, Greater Dandenong, Kingston, Mornington Peninsula). 
Event venue: Bunjil Place, 2 Patrick NE Drive, Narre Warren (in the Function Centre) 
For more info and to register: Visit the MAV website 

Please note: This is NOT the Local Government Compulsory Candidate Training. For more information on the compulsory training visit the Local Government Victoria website

Standing for Local Government session - Friday 17 May 

This online session will provide an overview of what it means to stand for local government, including how local councils work, the responsibilities of councillors and key issues to consider when standing for council.

Date: Friday 17 May
Time: 12pm to 1:30pm 
Location: online 
For more info and to register: Standing for Local Government | VLGA | Victorian Local Governance Association

Local Women Leading Change session - Friday 24 May

This online session is tailored for women candidates and will give them the opportunity to learn more about what it is to be a councillor. The session will cover key issues such as gender-based barriers to standing for election, as well as the importance of self care and balancing responsibilities.  

Date: Friday 24 May
Time: 12pm to 1:30pm
Location: online 
For more info and to register: Local Women Leading Change | VLGA | Victorian Local Governance Association

General infomation on becoming a local council candidate

For information including: 

• eligibility criteria
• whether you need to live in the local area
• funding and donations 
• Local Government candidate training 

visit the VEC website - Become a local council candidate page

Voting in Cardinia Shire elections

If you are enrolled to vote (State-enrolled or Council-enrolled), you must vote in your local council elections, or you may receive a fine. 

You have one vote per council. If you are a state-enrolled voter, that is the enrolment you use to vote.

Enrolling for local council elections | Victorian Electoral Commission (vec.vic.gov.au)

Check your enrolment status

You can check your enrolment status on the Victorian Electoral Commission website:

Check My Enrolment | Victorian Electoral Commission (vec.vic.gov.au)

State-enrolled voters

If you are on the Victorian electoral roll with an address in Cardinia Shire – then you will automatically be enrolled to vote in the 2024 Cardinia Shire elections and you must vote.

Please make sure your details are up to date with the Victorian Electoral Commission by 4pm Friday 30 August (see key dates).

If you want to apply to be a Council-enrolled voter

The rules have changed for Council-enrolled voters - you must apply (or re-apply) to vote in the 2024 Council elections, even if you have voted in previous Cardinia Shire elections.

You can apply to become a council-enrolled voter for Cardinia Shire elections if you are:

• classified as a Cardinia Shire ratepayer
• 18 years or older
• not already a State-enrolled voter within the council area.

For example, you:

• are a property owner
• are an occupier – this is usually for retail business tenants who are required to pay the Cardinia Shire rates as part of their lease agreements
• or represent a corporation that owns property

 at an address in Cardinia Shire.

For more information and examples, visit the Victorian Electoral Commission website.

Once you are enrolled, you must vote for the October 2024 elections. If you don’t vote, you may get a fine. You will also remain enrolled for any council by-elections.

More info? Enrolling for local council elections | Victorian Electoral Commission (vec.vic.gov.au)

Enrolments expire for occupier ratepayers and corporations

Council-enrolments for occupiers and corporations expire before the next local government general election. These ratepayers will need to apply each new general election year.

We will send you an invitation when it is time to renew your enrolment.

Applications open soon

Our online form to apply to be a Council-enrolled voter will be open soon – expected April 2024.

Once the form is open, you will need to apply to be a Council-enrolled voter by 4pm 30 August (see key dates).

Key dates for the 2024 elections

Cardinia Shire will have a postal election in 2024. Our election dates are set by the Victorian Electoral Commission.

• 4pm Friday 30 August – Entitlement date – you must ensure you apply or update your enrolment status by this date.
• 12 noon, Tuesday 24 September – nominations for candidates close at noon.
• Wednesday 9 October – Friday 11 October – Victorian Electoral Commission sends out postal voting packs to enrolled voters.
• 6pm Friday 25 October – voting closes – your ballot paper must be in the mail by this time.
• Saturday 26 October – Official election date – postal voting has now closed.

Ward boundary review 2024 – Victorian Electoral Commission (VEC)

Cardinia Shire is comprised of 9 single councillor wards, put in place after a ward boundary review in 2020. You can view current ward boundaries here. 

At the request of the Minister for Local Government, the VEC reviews the internal boundaries (wards) of a council when the number of voters per councillor is forecast to be outside the legislated +/- 10% tolerance in one or more wards at the next local council election. This makes sure each voter is represented equally at the next local council election.

The VEC is conducting a review of Cardinia Shire Council's ward boundaries in 2024. For more info visit the VEC website