Elections

Elections - General Information

The information on this page relates to local, State and Federal elections.

The Victorian Electoral Commission is required, by law, to conduct local government elections, including the election of Councillors for the City of Stonnington.  Please refer to the Victorian Electoral Commission website (www.vec.vic.gov.au) for further information.

The Victorian Electoral Commission is also required to conduct State elections.  Please refer to the Victorian Electoral Commission website (www.vec.vic.gov.au) for further information.

The Australian Electoral Commission is required, by law, to conduct Federal elections.  Please refer to the Australian Electoral Commission website (www.aec.gov.au) for further information.

Election signage and campaign activity - local, State and Federal elections

The conduct of elections and specifically the publication and distribution of electoral material (signs, hoardings, handbills and other material intended to inform the community about a candidate and influence the way people vote) is regulated by either the Australian Electoral Commission (for Commonwealth elections and referenda) or the Victorian Electoral Commission (for Victorian State and Local Government Elections).

In addition, the City of Stonnington is responsible for the enforcement of State laws that impact upon some elements of election activity (such as the Planning and Environment Act 1987 for signage on private property) and has a local law in place that regulates the way in which election candidates and their supporters may conduct themselves in our municipal area.  This includes the use of advertising boards (A Frame signs) and street stalls, signage on Council or other public property, signage on private property, littering and activity that may impact on the amenity of our City.

For further information see the Guidance document here(PDF, 309KB).

 

Council Elections

In Victoria, general council elections are held every four years, and it is compulsory to vote.

The most recent general council election was held on 26 October 2024. Voting was by postal ballot.

Council elections in Victoria are managed by the Victorian Electoral Commission.

2024 Council election

The Victorian Electoral Commission (VEC) declared the results of the City of Stonnington election on 12 November 2024.

For more information and results from the 2024 election visit the Stonnington City Council page on the VEC website.

Details of the Mayor, Deputy Mayor and Councillors of the City of Stonnington are available here: https://www.stonnington.vic.gov.au/About/About-Council/Mayor-and-Councillors.

Didn't vote in 2024 Stonnington Council elections?

If you didn't vote in the 2024 Stonnington Council elections and you were enrolled to vote, you may receive an Apparent Failure to Vote notice from the Victorian Electoral Commission (VEC).  Notices were sent in March 2025. 

This notice gives you the chance to explain why you didn't vote. If you do not respond to this notice or do not provide an explanation which is accepted, you may receive an infringement notice (a fine). 

The Apparent Failure to Vote process is managed by the VEC and you should contact the VEC about the letter, if you receive one.

More information about voting and the Voters' Roll. 

Electoral Structure

There is a new electoral structure for the City of Stonnington.

Under the Local Government Act 2020. Stonnington must now have a single-councillor ward electoral structure.

City of Stonnington has a nine single-councillor ward structure – nine wards, with one councillor per ward.

The names for the nine wards are detailed here:

boundaries.PNG

 

More information about the process to review electoral structures is available from the Victorian Electoral Commission.

 

Voting and Voters' Roll

The Victorian Electoral Commission prepares the Voters’ Roll for the City of Stonnington elections.

The next general election of Councillors for the City of Stonnington will be held in October 2028.

If there is a vacancy before the 2028 election, a by-election will be held.

 

Who can vote at local government elections?

People included in the Voters’ Roll can vote at local government elections.

There are two types of enrolment for the Voters’ Roll for local government elections.

These are:

1. State enrolled voters: Australian citizens who are 18 year of age or over and live in the City of Stonnington.

2. Council enrolled voters: Ratepayers such as property owners, occupiers or representatives of corporations.

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

State enrolled voters

If you are enrolled to vote in State elections (Australian citizens who are 18 year of age or over and live in the City of Stonnington.) you are automatically enrolled to vote in local government elections and you will receive a ballot pack at your enrolled address. There is nothing further you need to do.

If you are not sure if you are enrolled, you can check your enrolment here.

If you have moved or your details have changed, you can update your enrolment here.

If you have never enrolled, you can enrol to vote here.

Council enrolled voters

Council enrolled voters include ratepayers who are property owners, property occupiers or representatives of corporations.

Enrolment in this category is not automatic, you will need to apply to become a council enrolled voter, or you won’t receive a ballot pack. There are three different type of Council enrolled voter.

Council enrolled voters: owner ratepayers

You can apply to enrol as an owner ratepayer if you:

  • Own property and pay rates in the City of Stonnington and
  • Are 18 years or age or over and
  • Are not a state enrolled voter who lives in the City of Stonnington

You can complete an application on-line by clicking here.

You can also download the application form by clicking here(PDF, 65KB)  and after completing and signing it, send it to us at election@stonnington.vic.gov.au

Note that a maximum of two owners can apply to enrol for any one property.

Please note that it is not compulsory for you to apply to enrol, but if you do enrol, you must vote and if you do not you may receive a fine.

Council enrolled voters: occupier ratepayers

You can apply to enrol as an occupier ratepayer if you:

  • Pay rates for a property in the City of Stonnington and
  • Are 18 years or age or over and
  • Are not a state enrolled voter who lives in the City of Stonnington

You can complete an application on-line by clicking here.

You can also download the application form by clicking here(PDF, 67KB) and after completing and signing it, send it to us at election@stonnington.vic.gov.au

Note that a maximum of two owners can apply to enrol for any one property.

Please note that it is not compulsory for you to apply to enrol, but if you do enrol, you must vote and if you do not you may receive a fine.

Council enrolled voters: corporations

You can apply to enrol on behalf of a corporation if you:

  • Are a Director or Company Secretary of a corporation that pays rates (either as an owner or occupier) for a property in the City of Stonnington; and
  • Are 18 years or age or over; and
  • Have consented to being appointed as the corporations representative
  • Are not a state enrolled voter or Council enrolled voter who lives in the City of Stonnington

You can complete an application by downloading the application form by clicking here(PDF, 71KB) and after completing and signing it, send it to us at election@stonnington.vic.gov.au

A corporation can only appoint one person to represent it, regardless of how many properties the corporation owns or occupies in the City of Stonnington.

Please note that it is not compulsory for you to apply to enrol, but if you do enrol, you must vote and if you do not you may receive a fine.

Becoming a silent elector

You can apply to become a silent elector if you believe heaving your address included on the publicly available electoral roll could put you or your family’s safety at risk.

If your name is included on the State Electoral Roll, you need to apply to become a silent elector through the Australian Electoral Commission, and they will share your application with the Victorian Electoral Commission and Council. To find out more, click here.

If you have family enrolled at your address with the same family name, we strongly recommended that they also apply to become silent electors.

Check your enrolment

If you wish to check your enrolment, visit the Victorian Electoral Commission website here:  Check My Enrolment | Victorian Electoral Commission (vec.vic.gov.au) 

Election campaign donations

The Local Government Act 2020 requires a summary of election campaign donations to be made available on the Council website. Details of donations made to candidates for the 2024 election are available here: https://www.stonnington.vic.gov.au/About/About-Council/Governance-and-integrity/Registers-for-public-viewing/Election-Campaign-Donation-Return.

Oversight of Council elections

As the dedicated State Government integrity agency for councils, the Local Government Inspectorate (LGI) has oversight for the activities of councils, councillors and candidates under the electoral provisions of the Local Government Act 2020. The LGI works in partnership with other State Government agencies to help ensure a fair and democratic election process. 

The LGI has a range of resources available on their website here:  Local government elections 2024 | lgi.vic.gov.au

State Government elections - general information

The Victorian Electoral Commission is required to conduct State elections.  Please refer to the Victorian Electoral Commission website (www.vec.vic.gov.au) for further information.

Federal Government elections – general information

The Australian Electoral Commission is required to conduct Federal elections.  Please refer to the Australian Electoral Commission website (www.aec.gov.au) for further information.