Organisation : Victorian Electoral Commission
Facility : Postal voting
Country : Australia
Territory : Victoria
Postal voting : https://www.vec.vic.gov.au/
Home Page : http://www.vec.vic.gov.au/Default.html
Postal voting :
Voting via post is the most common voting method for local council elections.
Postal voting for the Polwarth and South-West Coast by-elections
If you are unable to attend a voting centre on election day and can’t vote early, you can apply for a postal vote.
Postal vote application form for applying within Victoria (PDF, 2.0MB) : https://www.electionin.org/uploads/611-P402EDBY%20-%20WEB%20Postal%20Vote%20Application%20-%20Victoria.pdf
Postal vote application form for applying within Victoria (Word, 1.3MB) : https://www.electionin.org/uploads/611-P402EDBY%20-%20WEB%20Postal%20Vote%20Application%20-%20Victoria.doc
Postal vote application form for applying outside of Victoria (PDF, 2.1MB) : https://www.electionin.org/uploads/611-P454EDBY%20-%20WEB%20Postal%20Vote%20Application%20-%20IS%20and%20OS.pdf
Postal vote application form for applying outside of Victoria (Word, 1.3MB) : https://www.electionin.org/uploads/611-P454EDBY%20-%20WEB%20Postal%20Vote%20Application%20-%20IS%20and%20OS.doc
Postal vote application forms are also available at Australia Post outlets throughout Polwarth District and South-West Coast District.
Remember you need to allow enough time for ballot material to be sent to your location. The last day you can apply for a postal vote is Thursday 29 October at 6.00 pm.
If you haven’t received your ballot material by Friday 30 October, you will need to attend an early voting centre or election day voting centre to vote.
Your completed ballot papers must be mailed back to the VEC postmarked before 6.00 pm (Victorian time) on election day, Saturday 31 October.
Alternatively, they can be delivered by hand to any voting centre on election day.
General postal voters :
General postal voters are people who always vote via post. They are automatically sent a ballot pack for every election, and must complete and return it before election day.
To become a general postal voter you must :
** live 20km from a voting centre
** be seriously ill or infirm, or caring for someone who is
** be 70 or more years old
** be in prison (but still on the electoral roll)
** be a silent elector or
** be unable to attend on election day for religious reasons.
The application form to register (PDF, 1.0MB) as a general postal voter must be received by the close of rolls.
People who register as general postal voters on grounds of age will not automatically receive a ballot pack for Federal elections.
Assistance with voting :
If you need help to complete your ballot papers, you can ask someone else to complete them on your behalf. That person may need to sign the declaration envelope stating that you are unable to sign your name.
Local council postal elections :
For local council postal elections, the VEC will automatically post ballot packs to each voter after nominations have closed. You do not need to register as a postal voter.
To vote via post for a local council attendance election, you must lodge the application for a postal vote from the day after nominations have closed. The application must be received by midday on the Thursday before election day.
Your completed ballot papers must reach the Returning Officer by 6.00 pm on election day, either by handing them in at a voting centre or via post.