What’s on this page?
- Key dates →
- About the 2024 Local Government Elections →
- Why become a Councillor? →
- Who is eligible to stand for Council? →
- Candidate Training and Information Sessions →
- Nominate to stand for Council →
- Resources and help →
- Election Signage Policy →
- Election Period Policy →
- Electoral Structure Review →
Key dates
Go to the Strathbogie Shire Council VEC webpage for regularly updated information: Victorian Electoral Commission | Strathbogie Shire Council Election
| Wednesday 7 August 2024 | Voters Roll closes at 4:00pm |
| Monday 9 September 2024 | Candidate nominations open 9:00am |
| Tuesday 17 September 2024 | Candidate nominations close at 12 noon |
| Monday 7 to Thursday 10 October 2024 | Mail out of ballot packs from VEC |
| Friday 25 October 2024 | Voting closes at 6:00pm |
| Friday 1 November 2024 | Postal vote receipt period closes at 12 noon |
| Friday 15 November 2024 | Latest date all elections to be declared |
About the 2024 Local Government Elections
Local Government Elections will take place across Victoria in October 2024.
Council is supporting the efforts of the Victorian Electoral Commission (VEC) to ensure a successful transition back to elected officials for the community and our organisation.
Strathbogie Shire Council will be an unsubdivided electoral structure represented by seven councillors, following recommendations made by the Electoral Representation Advisory Panel and accepted by the Minister for Local Government.
Go to the VEC website for more information: Victorian Electoral Commission | Voting: Strathbogie Shire Council
Why become a Councillor?
Use your voice and experience to make a difference.
Becoming a councillor is a hands-on way to serve your community and positively influence future directions and outcomes.
The VEC has prepared detailed information for people considering standing as candidates: Victorian Electoral Commission | Becoming a Local Council Candidate
Who is eligible to stand for Council?
The VEC provide detailed information about who is eligible to stand for Council plus answers to commonly asked questions about nominating: Victorian Electoral Commission | Becoming a Local Council Candidate
Candidate Training and Information Sessions
Mandatory training
All candidates must complete mandatory online training to be eligible to nominate to stand for council.
Go to the Victorian Local Government website to take the training now.
Information sessions
One-on-one Sessions
Council Administrator Peter Stephenson and Interim CEO Tim Tamlin will continue to offer 30 minute one-on-one candidate information sessions by appointment.
Email info@strathbogie.vic.gov.au or phone our Governance team on 03 5795 0000 to make a time which suits you.
The Victorian Electoral Commission will run two candidate information sessions in Strathbogie Shire prior to the nomination date. These sessions will run for approximately 1 hour and provide information on how to nominate and the election process.
| Session 1 | |
| Wednesday 4 September 2024 | 6:00pm – 7:00pm |
| Euroa Community Conference and Function Centre, Memorial Oval, Slee Street, Euroa | |
| Session 2 | |
| Friday 6 September 2024 | 1.30pm – 2.30pm |
| Nagambie Lakes Regatta Centre, 66 Loddings Lane, Nagambie | |
Bookings not required.
Online participation is not available, however a short video featuring the information covered in the session is available on the VEC website: www.vec.vic.gov.au/candidates-and-parties/becoming-a-local-council-candidate/local-council-candidate-resources
MAV is hosting sessions to assist potential candidates from under-represented groups such as LGBITQA+.
Visit the MAV website to find out more: mav.asn.au/stand-for-council-2024
Please note information sessions are optional and are different to the compulsory online training candidates must complete before submitting a nomination.
Information sessions are designed to support community members to better understand their regulatory obligations, participatory decision making, codes of conduct and essential community leadership skills which promote and model good governance.
Nominate to stand for Council
The VEC has prepared detailed information to help prospective candidates prepare and submit their nominations: Victorian Electoral Commission | How to nominate
| Nominations open at 9am on 9 September and close 12 noon on 17 September. |
Resources and help
Contact the VEC Candidate Services Team on 03 8620 1316 for assistance.
From Tuesday 20 August the VEC’s Candidate Helper tool will be available online to guide you through the nomination process. We will provide the link here when it is available.
From 9 September the VEC will operate a local election office at the Strathbogie Shire Council office − entrance from Bury Street.
The VEC are offering two information sessions in September →
The VEC will manage all their own enquiries and appointments for the local election office.
- Download the Candidate Handbook
- Watch the candidate information video series
- Download the Scrutineer Handbook
- Find out about counting the votes
Go to the VEC local election website for detailed information: www.vec.vic.gov.au
The Administrator and CEO will continue to offer one-on-one information sessions for candidates →
You can download the slides from the group information sessions earlier this year.
Please note Council is unable to assist candidates to complete their nomination forms, please contact the VEC Candidate Services Team on 03 8620 1316 for assistance.
Election Signage Policy
This Election Signage Policy has been developed to inform Local, State and Federal election candidates and Strathbogie Shire Council’s staff that as landowner or manager, Council does not allow any form of election signage on any land owned/or managed by council.
This position has been taken to ensure there is no perception of bias or providing an unfair competitive advantage to individual election candidates or political parties.
It is the intent of this Policy for Council to remain impartial during the conduct of any election (‘election period’) that affects residents within Strathbogie Shire.
Read the Election Signage Policy here
Election Period Policy
The Local Government Act 2020 requires the Council to include and adopt an Election Period Policy in its Governance Rules.
The purpose of this Policy is to ensure transparency and accountability around the behaviour and actions of Councillors, Council staff, contractors, registered Council volunteers and
candidates during the election period.
The ‘election period’ is the period that:
- starts at the time that nominations close on nomination day; and
- ends at 6pm on election day.
For the purposes of the 2024 general election this means that the election period starts at noon on 17 September 2024 and ends at 6pm on 26 October 2024.
Read the Election Period Policy here
Read the Governance Rules here
Electoral Structure Review
An independent electoral structure review panel appointed by the Minister for Local Government reviewed the electoral structure of Strathbogie Shire Council in 2023-24.
The Minister accepted the Panel’s recommendation to move the Strathbogie Shire Council Strathbogie Shire to an unsubdivided electoral structure represented by seven Councillors at the October 2024 elections,.
This means we no longer have wards and all seven Councillors will represent communities across the Shire.
For more information about changes and to read the final report, visit the VEC website.
Victorian Electoral Commission | Information for Voters