Following the recent conclusion of the Victorian council elections, there was a call yesterday from the Greens for an inquiry into the conduct of the recent council election.
These sorts of inquiries are standard for federal elections, and for state elections in a number of states including Victoria. But they aren’t typical for local government elections. While the Greens have listed ten specific issues needing discussion, I don’t see why the topics need to be limited. The Electoral Matters Committee of the Victorian Parliament conducted a general inquiry into the conduct of the 2022 state election, and could do the same for the 2024 local government election.
The Victorian Greens have written to the Premier requesting an inquiry into the 2024 Local Government Elections.We have heard reports of alleged ballot theft and evidence that renters may have been disenfranchised by the move to postal votes. 🧵
— Dr Tim Read MP (@timreadgreens.bsky.social) November 20, 2024 at 1:17 PM
If such an inquiry was to be held, I would definitely make a submission. Some of the issues I think that are worth discussing are:
- The single-member ward system
- The use of postal voting, whether there should be an in-person voting option, and security issues around the theft of postal ballots
- Turnout rates and participation of renters and young people in local democracy
- Counting and reporting of results
- Reporting of party membership, and potentially party labels on ballot papers.
- Non-residential votes
If you think that such an inquiry should be held, you can tell the committee yourself by emailing emc@parliament.vic.gov.au.
