Ballot Packs Mailed for Kingston City Council Melaleuca Ward Postal By-Election

The short answer

Ballot Packs Mailed for Kingston City Council Melaleuca Ward Postal By-Election

Ballot packs for the Kingston City Council Melaleuca Ward postal by-election have been mailed to all enrolled voters from Monday 13 July 2026. Voters in Melaleuca Ward should check their mail for the ballot pack, which contains a ballot paper listing the thirteen candidates, candidate statements, a ballot paper envelope, a reply-paid envelope, and multilingual voting instructions. Completed ballot material must be in the mail or hand delivered to the election office at 1230 Nepean Highway, Cheltenham by 6 pm on Friday 31 July 2026. Voters who have not received their ballot pack by Tuesday 21 July should call 131 832 to arrange a replacement.

This guide explains the federal position first. State, territory and local elections can use different rules, dates and ballot systems, so the commission named on your election material is the final operational source.

The useful question is not only “what is the rule?” but also “who administers it, which document controls it, and when might it change?” That distinction prevents an accurate general explanation from becoming wrong advice in a particular election, chamber or policy setting.

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What's in your ballot pack

Each ballot pack mailed to enrolled voters contains everything needed to cast a valid vote in the Melaleuca Ward by-election. The pack includes: a ballot paper listing the thirteen candidates in ballot paper order; candidate statements and photos (where provided by candidates); a ballot paper envelope for your completed ballot paper to go in; a reply-paid envelope for mailing your ballot paper envelope back to the VEC; and a leaflet with voting instructions in multiple languages.

Candidate questionnaire responses are also available on the VEC website for voters who want more detailed information about each candidate's positions and background. The thirteen candidates, in ballot paper order, are: Nikki Kaur, Louise Black, Peter Brown, Llewellyn Dixon-Mason, Glenn Dumbrell, Hayden Davies, Gavin Nolan, David Baker, Brian Paynter, Nicholas Bufalo, Bronwyn Currie, Joe Crupi, and Lachlan McDonald.

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How to vote correctly

To cast a valid vote in a local council by-election, you must follow the preferential voting system. On your council ballot paper, number every box in the order of your choice: write the number 1 in the box next to the candidate who is your first choice; write the number 2 in the box next to the candidate who is your second choice; and continue writing the numbers 3, 4, 5 and so on until you have placed a number in every single box.

A ballot paper that is filled out correctly is called a formal vote and will be counted toward the election result. A ballot paper that has not been filled out correctly is called an informal vote and cannot be counted. Common mistakes that make a vote informal include: placing ticks, crosses, or other symbols in the boxes instead of numbers; not numbering every box; missing or repeating numbers; or leaving the ballot paper blank. The VEC recommends visiting their 'How to fill in a council ballot paper' page on the VEC website if you are unsure of the correct procedure.

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How to return your completed ballot pack

Once you have completed your ballot paper, place it inside the ballot paper envelope and complete the declaration on the envelope. Then place the ballot paper envelope inside the reply-paid envelope provided. You have two options for returning your ballot material: post it as soon as possible using the reply-paid envelope — no stamp is required; or hand deliver it during business hours to the election office at 1230 Nepean Highway, Cheltenham.

Election Manager Sally Joy is encouraging voters to act quickly. 'This election is postal, so it's important to complete and return your ballot material as soon as possible to make sure your vote counts,' Ms Joy said. Voters should check their local mail clearance times carefully, as these may be earlier than 6 pm on Friday 31 July, or earlier in the week depending on the collection schedule for your local post box. 'Post or hand deliver your completed ballot pack by the deadline to make your vote count. Voting closes at 6 pm on Friday 31 July, but our advice is to not leave it to the last minute.'

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What to do if you haven't received your ballot pack

Voters who have not received their ballot pack by Tuesday 21 July 2026 should call the VEC on 131 832 during business hours to arrange a replacement. You can also visit the VEC website at vec.vic.gov.au to complete an online replacement form. Replacement ballot packs are available for voters who have lost their pack or whose pack is damaged and unusable.

If you will be away from your enrolled address during the voting period (Monday 13 July to Friday 31 July 2026), or if your mailing address has changed since the roll closed on Wednesday 20 May 2026, the VEC can send a replacement ballot pack to a different address. Call 131 832 or use the online redirection form at vec.vic.gov.au/redirections. If you are outside Victoria, call +613 8620 1100. Note that if you moved within or out of Melaleuca Ward since Wednesday 21 May 2026, you must still vote or risk a fine.

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In-person voting option at the election office

While this is primarily a postal election, the VEC has confirmed that voters can attend the election office to vote in person. The election office at 1230 Nepean Highway, Cheltenham has been open for in-person voting from 10 am on Wednesday 24 June 2026 and continues through to the close of voting. This option may be useful for voters who have lost their ballot pack, prefer to vote in person, or need assistance completing their ballot material.

Voters attending the election office in person must still complete and return their ballot material by 6 pm on Friday 31 July 2026. The election office is open on weekdays during business hours.

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Voting is compulsory — who must vote

Voting in the Kingston City Council Melaleuca Ward by-election is compulsory for all voters who were on the electoral roll for this election at 4 pm on Wednesday 20 May 2026. This includes two categories of voters: state-enrolled voters (Australian citizens aged 18 or over living in Melaleuca Ward who are on the state electoral roll for their current address), and council-enrolled voters (non-resident owner ratepayers, corporate representatives, and non-citizen ratepayers who pay rates on properties in Melaleuca Ward).

Voters who do not vote and do not have a valid excuse may be fined. If you are unsure whether you are enrolled, state-enrolled voters can check their enrolment online at vec.vic.gov.au or by calling 131 832. Council-enrolled voters can contact Kingston City Council on 1300 653 356 to check their enrolment status.

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Accessibility and large print options

For voters who are blind or have low vision, registrations for large print and braille ballot packs for this by-election are now closed. However, voters can register at any time for future elections by calling 03 8620 1314 from 9 am to 5 pm Monday to Friday, or by emailing BrailleAndLargePrint@vec.vic.gov.au. Voters with accessibility needs who have not yet voted in this by-election should contact the VEC on 131 832 for assistance.

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Key deadline summary

The deadline to return completed ballot material is 6 pm on Friday 31 July 2026. Voters who have not received their pack by Tuesday 21 July 2026 should contact the VEC immediately. Remember to check local mail clearance times — if you are posting your ballot on Friday 31 July, your local post box may have an earlier collection time than 6 pm. For hand delivery, the election office at 1230 Nepean Highway, Cheltenham accepts ballot packs during business hours on weekdays. After the close of voting, the VEC will count the ballots and declare the result.

Common questions

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