Mornington Peninsula Briars Ward by-election enrolment closes 22 July 2026 - last call for voters

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Mornington Peninsula Briars Ward by-election enrolment closes 22 July 2026 - last call for voters

The Victorian Electoral Commission has issued a final enrolment reminder for the Mornington Peninsula Shire by-election in Briars Ward. The close of roll is 4 pm on Wednesday 22 July 2026 — after that, no new enrolments or address updates will be accepted for this election. The VEC is urging residents, ratepayers, new citizens, and people who have recently turned 18 to check their enrolment immediately. Enrolment can be checked or completed online at vec.vic.gov.au. The VEC website also lets voters who have moved update their address. Ratepayers who are not Australian citizens may be eligible to enrol in a special category — but only if they apply through Mornington Peninsula Shire on 5950 1080 before the same 4 pm deadline. The by-election is scheduled for October 2026 and will be conducted by post. The exact timetable — including the ballot mail-out date and voting deadline — will be published after the close of roll. The VEC encourages all voters to sign up for VoterAlert, a free service that sends election reminders by SMS and email, so they do not miss their mailed ballot pack or the return deadline.

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 the VEC is telling voters to do now

Electoral Commissioner Sven Bluemmel is asking everyone who lives or pays rates in Briars Ward to confirm their enrolment before the 4 pm 22 July deadline. This applies to residents, ratepayers, new Australian citizens, and people who have turned 18 since the last election.

Enrolment checks and new enrolments can be completed online at vec.vic.gov.au. The same website handles address updates for voters who have moved — a critical step for a postal election where the ballot pack is mailed to the address on the roll. New or updated enrolments must be received by 4 pm on Wednesday 22 July; late applications will not be processed for this by-election.

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Special category enrolment for non-citizen ratepayers

Ratepayers who are not Australian citizens may still be eligible to vote in this council by-election under a special enrolment category. This covers owners, occupiers and company nominees who pay rates on a property in Briars Ward but are not otherwise entitled to enrol.

Applications for special-category enrolment must be made directly to Mornington Peninsula Shire — not through the VEC website. The council can be reached on 5950 1080. The same 4 pm 22 July deadline applies. Voters in this category should call the council as soon as possible because the application process involves verifying property and ratepayer details.

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Who votes in this by-election

Briars Ward is one of the wards in Mornington Peninsula Shire, which covers the peninsula south-east of Melbourne. The by-election was triggered by a councillor vacancy under the Local Government Act 2020, which requires a by-election when a vacancy occurs more than six months before the next general council election.

There are two types of enrolment for this by-election. State-enrolled voters are Australian citizens aged 18 or older who have lived at their Briars Ward address for at least one month — they use their existing VEC enrolment. Council-enrolled voters are ratepayers who own or occupy property in the ward but are not state-enrolled voters there — they must apply directly to Mornington Peninsula Shire.

Voting in Victorian local government elections is compulsory for everyone on the roll. The VEC follows up after the election with non-voter notices sent to apparent non-voters, who must provide a valid reason or may face a fee. If you are on the roll for Briars Ward, your vote is mandatory.

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How postal voting works for this by-election

The VEC has confirmed on its Current Elections page that this will be a postal by-election. After the close of roll, the VEC will mail a ballot pack to every enrolled voter. The pack includes a ballot paper, instructions and a reply-paid envelope.

Voters mark their ballot paper according to the instructions, seal it in the declaration envelope, sign the declaration and return it by the deadline that will be specified when the election timetable is published. Because there are no polling places, returning the completed ballot by the stated deadline is the only way to vote. Late ballots cannot be counted.

Because this is a postal election, an accurate mailing address on the roll is essential. If you have moved within Briars Ward or changed your postal address, update it now through the VEC website. An outdated address means your ballot pack may not reach you.

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Sign up for VoterAlert for election reminders

The VEC recommends all voters register for its free VoterAlert service, which sends important election reminders by SMS and email. VoterAlert notifies subscribers when key election dates approach — including ballot mail-out, close of voting and deadline reminders.

Signing up takes a few minutes on the VEC website. For a postal-only election, where voters receive no physical polling-place signage or in-person reminders, VoterAlert is the most reliable way to ensure you do not miss the ballot return deadline.

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VEC and council contact channels

Voters with questions about their enrolment or the by-election process can contact the VEC on 131 832 or visit vec.vic.gov.au. The VEC also publishes election information in multiple languages on its website.

For ratepayer enrolment queries specific to Mornington Peninsula Shire, call the council directly on 5950 1080. The VEC handles general enrolment and voting questions but does not manage the council's ratepayer enrolment register — that sits with the council. Media enquiries about the by-election can be directed to the VEC communications team on 0460 888 355 or communication@vec.vic.gov.au.

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What comes after the close of roll

Once the roll closes on 22 July, the VEC finalises the electoral roll for Briars Ward and publishes the official election timetable. This will include the candidate nomination period, the date ballot packs are mailed, and the deadline for returning completed votes.

Candidates can nominate during the nomination window set out in the timetable. Candidate eligibility requirements, nomination forms and the candidate handbook are available from the VEC website. A list of nominated candidates is published by the VEC after nominations close.

Common questions

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