Five candidates confirmed for Latrobe City Council Morwell River Ward postal by-election

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Five candidates confirmed for Latrobe City Council Morwell River Ward postal by-election

Five candidates have nominated for the Latrobe City Council Morwell River Ward postal by-election, the Victorian Electoral Commission announced on Wednesday 24 June 2026. The candidates span a cross-section of the local community and will compete for the single councillor vacancy created by the resignation of Councillor Tracie Lund. In ballot paper order as determined by the VEC, the candidates are: Rob Moffatt, Dean Sutton, John Ellingham, Guss Lambden, and Graham Lougheed. All five candidates successfully lodged their nominations before the 12 noon Tuesday 23 June deadline and the VEC has verified their eligibility to stand. The by-election is being conducted entirely by post, with ballot packs to be mailed to all enrolled voters in Morwell River Ward. Voting closes at 6 pm on Friday 31 July 2026. Election Manager Janette Gibson is urging voters to complete and return their ballot packs as soon as possible after receiving them, rather than waiting until the deadline. Completed ballot packs can be returned by post or hand-delivered to the election office at 40-50 Queens Parade, Traralgon.

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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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The five candidates in ballot paper order

The VEC published the official list of candidates in ballot paper order on Wednesday 24 June 2026. The five candidates are: Rob Moffatt, Dean Sutton, John Ellingham, Guss Lambden, and Graham Lougheed. The order on the ballot paper is determined by a randomised process conducted by the VEC, not by alphabetical order or any other factor.

Candidate statements and photographs, where provided, will be included in the ballot packs mailed to voters and published on the VEC website at vec.vic.gov.au. The VEC advised that candidate statements and information would be available online later in the week of 24 June. Voters are encouraged to read the candidate statements to make an informed choice.

Each candidate paid the $250 nomination fee and lodged their nomination in person at the election office at 40-50 Queens Parade, Traralgon during the nomination period from 15 to 23 June 2026. The VEC verified that all five candidates met the eligibility requirements under the Local Government Act 2020, including being Australian citizens aged 18 or older and enrolled to vote in Latrobe City Council.

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How the postal voting process works

This by-election is being conducted entirely by post — there will be no physical polling places in Morwell River Ward. The VEC mails a ballot pack to every voter who was correctly enrolled in the ward at the close of roll, which was 4 pm on Wednesday 20 May 2026.

Each ballot pack contains a ballot paper listing the five candidates in their determined order, candidate statements and photographs (if provided), a ballot paper envelope for the marked vote, a reply-paid envelope for return, and a leaflet with voting instructions in multiple languages. Voters must mark the ballot paper according to the full preferential voting system used for Victorian local government elections, numbering every box in order of preference.

After completing the ballot paper, voters seal it in the declaration envelope, sign the declaration on the envelope, place the signed envelope inside the reply-paid envelope, and return it by post or hand-deliver it to the election office at 40-50 Queens Parade, Traralgon. All completed ballot material must be in the mail or delivered by 6 pm on Friday 31 July 2026.

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Who must vote and what happens if you do not

Voting in this by-election is compulsory for all voters who were on the electoral roll for Morwell River Ward at 4 pm on Wednesday 20 May 2026. This includes two categories of enrolled voters: state-enrolled voters, who are Australian citizens aged 18 or older living in the ward and on the state electoral roll; and council-enrolled voters, who are ratepayers enrolled directly with Latrobe City Council.

Non-citizen ratepayers who own or occupy property in Morwell River Ward and applied for council enrolment through Latrobe City Council before the close of roll are also required to vote. The VEC sends non-voter notices after the election to people who appear not to have voted. Recipients must provide a valid reason for not voting or they may incur a fine.

Voters who have changed address since 20 May 2026 should note that if they moved within or out of Morwell River Ward after Wednesday 21 May, they must still vote in this election or risk a fine. Voters who will be away when ballot packs are posted from Monday 13 July can arrange for a replacement ballot pack to be sent to a different address by calling 131 832.

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Election manager's advice and key deadlines

Election Manager Janette Gibson has advised voters to act promptly once they receive their ballot packs. 'Post or hand deliver your completed ballot pack by the deadline to make your vote count,' Ms Gibson said. 'Voting closes at 6 pm on Friday 31 July, but our advice is to not leave it to the last minute.'

The election office at 40-50 Queens Parade, Traralgon will be open on weekdays throughout the voting period from the close of nominations until Friday 31 July 2026. Voters can hand-deliver their completed ballot packs to the election office during business hours up to 6 pm on the final day. This is an alternative to posting the ballot if voters are concerned about postal delivery times.

For voters posting their ballot packs, the VEC recommends checking local mail clearance times, which may be earlier than 6 pm or earlier in the week. Australia Post collection times vary by location, and a ballot pack posted after the last collection on Friday 31 July may not be postmarked in time to be counted, even if it was placed in a mailbox before 6 pm.

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How the votes will be counted

The Latrobe City Council Morwell River Ward by-election uses the full preferential voting system, which is standard for single-councillor wards in Victorian local government elections. Voters must number every box on the ballot paper — placing a '1' next to their first preference, a '2' next to their second, and so on for all five candidates.

To win, a candidate must receive more than 50 per cent of the formal vote after preferences are distributed. If no candidate achieves a majority of first-preference votes, the candidate with the fewest votes is eliminated and their votes are distributed to those voters' second preferences. This process continues until one candidate has a majority.

The VEC counts all ballot papers received by the deadline at a secure counting centre. Scrutineers appointed by candidates may observe the count to ensure transparency. The result is declared by the Election Manager once the count is complete and any required preference distributions have been finalised. The successful candidate is then sworn in as the new councillor for Morwell River Ward.

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What the new councillor's term looks like

The successful candidate will serve as the councillor for Morwell River Ward until the next general council election. Under the Local Government Act 2020, general council elections in Victoria are held every four years, with the most recent general election having taken place in October 2024. The by-election winner fills the remainder of the term that Councillor Tracie Lund vacated upon her resignation.

As a councillor for Morwell River Ward, the successful candidate will represent the residents and ratepayers of the ward on Latrobe City Council. Council responsibilities include local roads, waste management, community facilities, planning and development, local economic development, and a range of community services. Councillors participate in council meetings, contribute to policy development and strategic planning, and engage with their constituents.

The VEC does not provide commentary on candidates' platforms or policies. Voters are encouraged to read the candidate statements included in their ballot packs and available on the VEC website, and to contact candidates directly through any contact information they have provided. The VEC's role is to conduct the election impartially and ensure all eligible voters can participate.

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