Participate as a candidate

Candidates will have access to assistance and training through a range of organisations including the Victorian Electoral Commission (VEC), Municipal Association of Victoria (MAV) and Victorian Local Governance Association (VLGA).

Who can stand as a candidate in a City of Darebin election?

To nominate for election as a Councillor at Darebin City Council, a person must meet the qualification to be a councillor requirements as identified in the “Becoming a Council election candidate” section of this webpage.

Information and assistance for candidates

Information and assistance are available in a number of forms prior to and during a City of Darebin election.

VEC

Before the election, the Victorian Electoral Commission usually holds information sessions for prospective candidates. These sessions provide information about the process and enable potential candidates to meet the election manager appointed to run the election. Details of information sessions are made available from the Victorian Electoral Commission or from us.

The Victorian Electoral Commission also provides a comprehensive Candidate Information Kit that describes the election process and timelines. The kit also explains the requirements of becoming a candidate and includes forms to be completed by candidates.

The VEC website contains information about council elections, including candidates’ handbooks, which detail the requirements of being a candidate. These are usually available about 3 months prior to the City of Darebin’s elections.

MAV Stand for Council Program

In partnership with Victorian councils, the MAV is delivering a number of information sessions for the community and prospective candidates. These sessions can be attended either in-person or online. For further information on the program or to register to attend an information session refer to the MAV website.

VLGA Standing for Local Government

The VLGA is running a program of events in the lead up to the 2024 local government elections to support those running for council. For further information on the program or to register to attend an information session refer to the VLGA website.

Key election dates

Candidates for Council elections must adhere to certain key dates and conditions.

Entitlement date
To stand as a candidate a person needs to be an eligible voter in the City of Darebin. Entitlement date (80 days before election day) is important for a candidate because it’s the last chance a person has to be correctly enrolled to vote.
Notice of election
The election manager must give public notice of the election and call for nominations to fill the vacant positions not less than 50 days before Darebin City Council’s elections
Close of nominations
Candidates must be nominated by 12 noon on the day that is 39 days before the election day.
Close of voting
The election day is the last Saturday in October. Our method of voting is postal voting. Ballot papers must be posted by 6pm on the day before the election day.
Declaration of the poll
The election manager will publicly declare results after the votes have been counted and scrutineers have had time to examine the record of the count. The declaration of the election may be delayed if the election manager decides to conduct a recount

Nominations

Candidates must be nominated by 12 noon on the day that is 39 days before the election. For the 2024 Council elections this will be 12pm on Tuesday 17 September 2024.

Local Government Victoria mandatory candidate training

All candidates in any council election in Victoria are required to complete the online Local Government Candidate Training. All candidates must also declare to the Victorian Electoral Committee (VEC) when they have completed the training in order to nominate.

The online Candidate Training is available to complete now on the Local Government Victoria website and takes around one hour to complete.

The candidate training – introduced in the Local Government Act 2020 – has been updated by Local Government Victoria to better equip and prepare candidates who are prospective first-term councillors. The training will help candidates understand the role of a councillor and what it requires before nominating. The training also serves as a refresher for more experienced councillors.

Candidate nominations for council elections will open on Monday 9 September and close at midday on Tuesday 17 September 2024 – so it’s a good idea for candidates to complete the training before nominations open.

It is not mandatory for those who have completed Candidate Training in the past two years to complete the training, however, Local Government Victoria strongly recommends that all candidates enrol for the updated training. This will refresh their understanding of the roles and responsibilities of councils and councillors, as well as the standards they are expected to uphold if elected.

Participants who complete the training will receive a certificate of completion.

The updated training includes information on:

eligibility requirements for candidates
the role of a council
the role of a councillor, including greater emphasis on the strategic nature of the role and the time commitment required
how councils make decisions
updated information on governance and integrity requirements including personal interest, conflicts of interest, confidentiality, and conduct expected of councillors
support available to help incoming councillors perform their role.

These topics will help ensure that candidates have a better understanding of the role of a councillor prior to standing.

The updated training complements the reforms introduced in the Local Government Amendment (Governance and Integrity) Act 2024 that will introduce a requirement for all councillors to complete professional development training as well as specific training for mayors and deputy mayors.

For more information on the Local Government Candidate Training visit localgovernment.vic.gov.au/council-governance/candidate-training.

Campaign donations

Within 40 days of election day, all candidates must submit to the City of Darebin's Chief Executive Officer an "Election Campaign Donation Return". This will provide details of any gifts, goods or services worth $500 or more, received during the donation period for use in connection with their election campaign. This applies to all candidates, whether elected or not, and whether they received campaign donations or not.

The ‘donation period’ is defined as the period beginning 30 days after election day in the previous election and ending 30 days after election day in the current election.

Copies of election donation return forms will be included in candidate information kits and available from us.

Within 14 days after the deadline for lodgement of completed campaign donation returns by candidates, summaries of each return lodged will be made available on this website for a period up until the entitlement date for the next general election. Completed campaign donation returns are also available for public inspection at the City of Darebin's offices for four years after the election.

Summary of Election Campaign Donations - 2024(PDF, 202KB)

Additional information

The Vic Councils website has additional information on standing for Council including but not limited to the following:

How to stand for council
Council’s role
How to get elected
Being a councillor