Latrobe City Council opens nominations for Morwell River Ward by-election - here's how to nominate

The short answer

Latrobe City Council opens nominations for Morwell River Ward by-election - here's how to nominate

Candidate nominations for the Latrobe City Council Morwell River Ward by-election opened on Monday 15 June 2026. The Victorian Electoral Commission is calling for community members who want to represent their area to lodge their nomination in person at the election office in Traralgon before the deadline of 12 noon on Tuesday 23 June 2026. The by-election was triggered by the resignation of Councillor Tracie Lund from Morwell River Ward, a single-councillor ward in the Latrobe City Council. Under the Local Government Act 2020, when a vacancy occurs in a single-councillor ward more than six months before the next general council election, a by-election must be held to fill the seat. Prospective candidates must pay a $250 nomination fee and lodge their paperwork in person during business hours at the election office at 40-50 Queens Parade, Traralgon. The VEC has also provided a Candidate Helper tool at candidatehelper.vec.vic.gov.au to help prospective candidates begin their nomination online and save time at the appointment. Candidate kits are available by calling Election Manager Janette Gibson on 03 9678 1094.

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.

Evidence review

Why a by-election is being held in Morwell River Ward

The Latrobe City Council Morwell River Ward by-election was triggered by the resignation of Councillor Tracie Lund, creating a vacancy in this single-councillor ward. Under the Local Government Act 2020, the VEC must conduct a by-election to fill the seat when a vacancy occurs in a single-councillor ward more than six months before the next scheduled general council election.

Morwell River Ward is one of the wards in Latrobe City Council, located in the Gippsland region of Victoria approximately 150 kilometres east of Melbourne. The council area includes the major towns of Traralgon, Morwell, Moe and Churchill. The ward boundaries determine which residents and ratepayers are eligible to vote in this by-election.

The VEC confirmed the election timetable through its media channels and the dedicated by-election page on its website at vec.vic.gov.au. The by-election will be conducted entirely by post, a common format for council by-elections in Victoria. This means there will be no physical polling places — every enrolled voter will receive a ballot pack in the mail.

Evidence review

Key dates for candidates

Nominations opened at the start of business on Monday 15 June 2026. The nomination period runs for just over one week, with a hard close at 12 noon on Tuesday 23 June 2026. The VEC has made clear that late nominations will not be accepted under any circumstances — this is a statutory deadline with no discretion to extend.

Candidates must lodge their nomination form in person at the election office. The election office is located at 40-50 Queens Parade, Traralgon. It is open on weekdays throughout the nomination period. Prospective candidates cannot submit their nomination by email, post or online — an in-person appointment is mandatory.

The election office will remain open on weekdays from Monday 15 June through to Friday 31 July 2026, which is the date voting closes. After the nomination period ends on 23 June, the office transitions to supporting the voting phase of the election. Candidates are encouraged to lodge their nomination earlier rather than later to avoid last-minute issues.

Evidence review

How to nominate: the step-by-step process

The nomination process for this by-election has several mandatory steps. First, prospective candidates must call 03 9678 1094 from Monday 15 June to make a nomination appointment with the election office. Walk-ins cannot be accommodated, so calling ahead is essential.

Second, candidates can start their nomination online using the Candidate Helper tool available at candidatehelper.vec.vic.gov.au. This tool lets candidates prepare their nomination form before their in-person appointment, which saves time at the election office and reduces the chance of errors or missing information.

Third, at the scheduled appointment, candidates must attend in person at 40-50 Queens Parade, Traralgon, with their completed nomination form and supporting documentation. The nomination fee of $250 must be paid at this time. The VEC recommends bringing identification and any candidate statement or photo the candidate wishes to have included in the ballot pack.

Candidate kits containing detailed information on the nomination process, eligibility requirements and campaign rules are available by calling the election manager on 03 9678 1094. These kits are an important resource for first-time candidates unfamiliar with the local government election framework.

Evidence review

Who can nominate as a candidate

To be eligible to nominate as a candidate for the Latrobe City Council Morwell River Ward by-election, a person must be an Australian citizen aged 18 or older and be enrolled to vote in Latrobe City Council. Candidates do not need to live in Morwell River Ward specifically, but they must be enrolled on the council voters' roll for Latrobe City Council.

Certain people are disqualified from being a council candidate under the Local Government Act 2020. This includes undischarged bankrupts, people convicted of certain criminal offences, and current council employees. The candidate kit and Candidate Helper tool include a full checklist of eligibility requirements that prospective candidates should review before lodging their nomination.

Candidates may also choose to provide a candidate statement and photograph, which are included in the ballot pack mailed to all voters. These statements must comply with VEC guidelines on content and format. Information on preparing candidate statements is available in the candidate kit and through the election office.

Evidence review

What happens after nominations close

Once nominations close at 12 noon on Tuesday 23 June 2026, the VEC verifies all lodged nominations and publishes the official list of candidates. If only one valid nomination is received, that candidate is declared elected unopposed without a vote. If two or more candidates nominate, the by-election proceeds to a postal ballot.

For a contested election, the VEC mails ballot packs to every voter enrolled in Morwell River Ward. The ballot packs contain a ballot paper listing candidates in a randomised order determined by the VEC, along with candidate statements and voting instructions. Voting in local government elections uses full preferential voting — voters must number every box on the ballot paper in order of their preference.

The close of roll for this by-election was 4 pm on Wednesday 20 May 2026. Only voters who were correctly enrolled at that date are eligible to vote. The VEC uses two enrolment categories for council elections: state-enrolled voters (Australian citizens on the state electoral roll) and council-enrolled voters (ratepayers who are not state-enrolled in the council area, such as non-citizen property owners).

Evidence review

Election Manager and VEC contact information

Election Manager Janette Gibson is the VEC official responsible for conducting the Latrobe City Council Morwell River Ward by-election. Ms Gibson is the primary point of contact for prospective candidates and manages the election office at 40-50 Queens Parade, Traralgon.

Candidates and voters with questions can contact the election manager on 03 9678 1094 during business hours. General information about the by-election, including all timetables, candidate eligibility requirements and voting information, is published on the VEC website at vec.vic.gov.au.

The VEC also publishes public notices for the by-election as required by legislation, including the close of roll notice published on 8 May 2026. These notices are available on the VEC website and are displayed at council offices and other public locations in the Latrobe City Council area.

Common questions

Before you rely on the answer