Becoming a candidate

A person may nominate as a candidate for an election for any ward of the Darebin City Council if they are qualified to be an elected Councillor.

Becoming a Council Election candidate

The next general elections for Darebin City Council will be held on Saturday 26 October 2024. A person may nominate as a candidate for an election for any ward of the Darebin City Council if they are qualified to be a Councillor pursuant to section 34 of the Local Government Act 2020 (the Act).

Qualification to be a Councillor

(1) A person is qualified to be a Councillor of a Council if the person:

  • (a) has attained the age of 18 years; and
  • (b) is an Australian citizen or an eligible British subject referred to in section 48(1)(a) of the Constitution Act 1975; and
  • (c) is enrolled on the voters' roll for the Council or would be enrolled on the voters' roll for the Council on a particular day if a voters' roll were to be prepared on that particular day; and
  • (d) is not a person to whom subsection (2) applies.

Anyone who wishes to nominate as a candidate must also complete compulsory training to help you understand the role and responsibilities of being a councillor. Pursuant to section 256(7) of the Act, a person will not be able to nominate as a candidate unless they have completed the training. 

Non-qualification to be a Councillor

(2) A person is not qualified to be a Councillor of a Council if the person:

  • (a) is a member of the Parliament of Victoria or of the Parliament of the Commonwealth of Australia or of another State or a Territory of the Commonwealth; or
  • (b) is employed as a Ministerial officer, a Parliamentary adviser or an electorate officer by a member of the Parliament of Victoria or in a corresponding position (however designated) by, or for, a member of the Parliament of the Commonwealth of Australia or of another State or a Territory of the Commonwealth; or
  • (c) is a Councillor of another Council constituted under this Act or a member of a corresponding body (however designated) under an Act of another State or a Territory of the Commonwealth; or
  • (d) is a member of Council staff of the Council; or
  • (e) is an undischarged bankrupt; or
  • (f) has property that is subject to control under the law relating to bankruptcy; or
  • (g) has failed to take the oath or affirmation of office of Councillor at any Council when required under this Act during the current term of office of that Council; or
  • (h) has been disqualified from being a Councillor after a finding by VCAT of gross misconduct, for the period that the period of disqualification specified in the order made by VCAT is in force; or
  • (i) has been subject to 2 or more findings of serious misconduct by a separate Councillor Conduct Panel under section 167 in the preceding 8 years and the period during which the person can apply under section 170 to VCAT for a review of those findings has expired, for the period of 4 years following the second finding of serious misconduct during which the disqualification is in force; or
  • (j) has been convicted of the offence of failing to lodge an election campaign donation return in relation to the current term of the Council; or
  • (k) has been convicted of an offence against this Act in the preceding 8 years for which the maximum penalty is at least 120 penalty units or a period of imprisonment of at least 12 months; or
  • (l) has been convicted of an offence in the preceding 8 years, committed when the person was of or over 18 years of age, which is punishable upon first conviction for a term of imprisonment of 2 years or more under the law of Victoria, or the law of any other State, or a Territory of the Commonwealth, or the law of the Commonwealth; or
  • (m) is disqualified from managing corporations under Part 2D.6 of the Corporations Act.

(3) If a Councillor becomes aware that they have ceased to be qualified to be a Councillor of a Council, the Councillor must immediately give notice in writing to the Chief Executive Officer of the Council that they have ceased to be qualified to be a Councillor of the Council.

Further information about becoming a councillor can be found on the VEC website. 

Do I need to live in the area?

Candidates must be on Darebin City Council’s voters roll. Candidates can stand for election for any ward within Darebin City Council, even if their enrolled address is in a different ward within the Council.

Can I have a copy of the electoral roll?

Candidates will be provided with an electronic copy of Darebin City Council’s electoral roll for the election they are contesting, free of charge. This file can be printed if required and will be in a format suitable for looking up names and mail-merging letters.

In gaining access to Darebin City Council’s electronic roll, candidates must declare their use of the data is solely for campaign purposes in relation to their election. All copies of the roll provided to candidates must be destroyed after the declaration of result for the election or return the copy of the voters’ roll and any copies made from it to the VEC within 30 days after election day. Penalties apply for misusing roll information or failing to destroy or return roll information as required. 

How-to-vote cards

All how-to-vote cards must be registered with the VEC. Any member of the public, candidate or organisation can register a how-to-vote card.

Am I entitled to public funding?

There is no public funding for candidates in local Council elections.

What happens at an uncontested election?

If, at the close of nominations, there are only enough nominations to fill the number of vacancies advertised, the election manager must declare the nominated candidates elected and give notice of the declaration.

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