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Overview
Enrolment for the 2024 Council Elections is now closed.
This year, the City of Casey will return to elected councillors when local Council Elections occur across Victoria in October 2024.
A panel of Administrators has governed Casey since the state government dismissed the Casey councillors in February 2020. Over the next 12 months, Casey Council will undertake various measures and support the Victorian Electoral Commission (VEC) to ensure a successful transition back to elected officials for the community and our organisation.
For frequently asked questions relating to the Casey Council Election, please refer to FAQs.
2024 Council Election Key Dates (2024)
| Wednesday 7 August | Enrolment to vote closes |
| Monday 9 September | Nominations open for candidates |
| Tuesday 17 September | Nominations, photographs, candidate statements and questionnaires close at 12 pm |
| Tuesday 17 September (12 pm) to 26 October (6 pm) | Caretaker period |
| Wednesday 18 September | Ballot draw |
| Monday 7 October | Ballot mail out to enrolled residents begin |
| Friday 25 October | Voting closes at 6 pm |
| Friday 15 November | All election results declared by the VEC |
Information for voters
Ballot packs for voting
All enrolled Casey residents will receive a voting ballot in the mail in early October 2024.
Ballots must be returned to any Australian Post Office or placed in a red Australian Post mailing box by 6 pm, Friday, 25 October 2024.
Note: Council Offices will not, under any circumstance, accept ballot papers.
Caretaker Period
From Tuesday, 17 September (commencement of the official Election Period), Council will enter the Caretaker Period, which restricts what we can and can’t do. This includes:
- No significant decisions on key strategies, projects or grants will be made.
- Restrictions on projects or spending over $2.8 million
- Restrictions on the information we publish and distribute to the community, including on social media, the Council website, media releases, printed ads in the newspaper, etc. This is done to minimise the risk of any unfair advantage for any candidate.
Candidate Information Request Register
A Register of Requests for Information from Candidates (the Register) in the upcoming Council election will be kept from the close of nominations to the day of the election which will record requests by persons who identify themselves as candidates when seeking information from Council.
The register will record the responses provided and be updated on this page weekly.
View the latest Request Register uploaded on Thursday, 26 September.
VEC mapping tool
The VEC has provided an interactive map to help you understand the street boundaries within each Casey ward.
How to vote
The VEC provides free information sessions about the upcoming elections. Topics covered include:
- who can vote
- how to enrol
- how to vote correctly
- where to get help to vote.
Book your free information session
How-to-vote videos are available in the following ten languages.
Information for candidates
Role of Council candidate information session
Are you considering standing for Council?
Councillors are a crucial part of our democratic society and play an essential role in serving and representing the interests of their community. The key aspects of a councillor's role include:
- Participating in Council's decision-making
- Representing the municipality's interests
- Participating in strategic planning activities
The City of Casey delivered several 'Role of Council' candidate information sessions to support those interested in running for Council. The sessions outlined the diverse range of functions and services local government provides, the role of councillors and the resources required for potential candidates for the 2024 Local Government Elections. You can learn more about the training sessions on the MAV website.
You must know some essential information if you are considering standing for Council. We will be providing that information and ongoing updates on this page. Below are some materials for your consideration:
MAV Citizen Councillor Guide
The easy-to-use guide is relevant to both candidates and the community and covers the following topics:
- How Councils work
- Council electoral structures
- Skills and attributes of a successful councillor
- Getting to know candidates
- Volunteer with a campaign
- Influencing candidates
- Engaging in the community
Eligibility to run for Council
All local council candidates must meet eligibility requirements to be nominated. It is your responsibility to ensure you are qualified to be a candidate. You are eligible to nominate as a candidate if you are:
- 18 years of age or older
- an Australian citizen
- enrolled on the voter's roll for the council you wish to nominate in
- not disqualified from being a councillor
- Completed the online Local Government Candidate Training and informed the Victorian Electoral Committee.
You can not nominate as a candidate or become a councillor if you:
- are a member of an Australian Parliament, including the Federal Parliament or a Parliament of a state or territory of the Commonwealth of Australia
- are employed as a ministerial officer, parliamentary adviser or an electorate officer (however designated) by a member of an Australian Parliament
- are a councillor of another council, including interstate councils
- are a member of council staff (unless you have taken leave from that office or position for the election period)
- are an undischarged bankrupt
- have property that is subject to control under the law relating to bankruptcy
- have been convicted of any of the offences referred to in section 34(2) of the Act
- are currently disqualified for any of the reasons referred to in the Act
- are otherwise incapable of becoming or continuing to be a Councillor.
Local Government Act 2020
The Local Government Act 2020 covers the key governance requirements, the role of Council and the CEO and Mayor and councillors, conflicts of interests including penalty provisions, personal interest returns, key documents you must endorse as a councillor, etc. This has been updated to reflect recent changes to Local Government Amendment (Governance and Integrity) Bill 2024, such as mandatory Mayoral and Deputy Mayor Training, mandated Councillor Professional Development Training, and reduced Councillor Induction from 6 months to 4 months and more.
Local Government (governance and Integrity) Regulations 2020
Local Government (Governance) Regulations 2020 covers conflict of interest exemptions, personal interest returns and mandatory councillor induction matters.
Casey City Council electoral structure review
The City of Casey is moving to single-member wards, with 12 wards represented by 12 individual councillors. Read the Casey City Council electoral structure review for more details.
Local council candidate resources
Election campaigning
Council has a Policy on advertising and promotional signage at Council's Active Recreation Reserves. Political advertising is not permitted at Council sporting facilities. Advertising and Promotional Signage on Council's Active Recreation Reserves Policy.
Council's Community Local Law provides that a person cannot display signage on any road or Council land except with a permit. If you want to display signage on council land or a road, you must apply for a permit through the Local Laws department.
Governance Rules
Protocols for Land Use Planning Policy
Political signage regulations
Signs on private property
Election signs erected on private land do not require a planning permit, provided they meet the following conditions:
- One sign only
- No bigger than 5 square metres
- Not to be animated or internally lit
- Must not be displayed longer than 14 days after the election date
- It can include information about the candidate.
Signage that may be displayed on privately owned land and where a planning exemption is used can be displayed for up to three months.
A building permit will be required for:
- Any sign structure that is within 3 m of a property street boundary and exceeds more than 1m in height above the ground level, and
- Any sign structure 3 m or more from a property street boundary with a height exceeding 8m above the ground level and a display area greater than 6 m2.
A building permit would not be required for a corflute sign or the like fixed to a fence.
Where the Building Act 1993 requires that a building permit must be issued before undertaking building work, a penalty of up to 500 penalty units (currently around $98,000 plus costs) for an individual and 2500 penalty units (currently $494,000) plus costs for a company may be imposed by the Court for illegal building work undertaken without a permit.
Advertising boards placed on vehicles
- Vehicles should be parked legally as per the Road Rules.
- Vehicles over 7.5 metres in length combined (vehicle and trailer) can only be parked in a built-up area for up to 1 hour.
- Vehicles parked in prominent positions with advertising boards are considered signage and require a permit.
Bill posting
- No signs can be affixed to any fixed structure without the consent of its owner, occupier, or manager.
- Fixed structures can include light posts, traffic posts, bus stops, etc.
- There will be no approval to place signs on the City of Casey structures.
Breaches and non-compliance
- Displaying an electoral sign on any road or Council land without a permit or not complying with the conditions of a permit can be impounded by our City Compliance Officers. The cost to retrieve a confiscated sign is $220 per sign, and an additional $296 infringement notice can be issued for displaying a sign without a permit.
Download the political signage fact sheet for more information on display signage requirements.
Women For Election (WFE)
In partnership with Women for Election (WFE), the City of Casey hosted a two-day workshop and online candidate training in August 2024. The WFE website provides more information on how WFE can empower women to enter political roles.
You can also view their I-RUN brand awareness campaign on social media.
LGBTIQA+ information session
In August 2024, the Municipal Association of Victoria held an LGBTIQA+ Stand for Council information session in partnership with Rainbow Local Government. Activist and academic Rodney Croome AM addressed the evening, highlighting the importance of public service and encouraging LGBTQ+ public leaders interested in running for Council.
Visit the Rainbow Community Angels for information on supporting, empowering and celebrating the LGBTIQA+ community, or download the Rainbow Community Angels presentation.
Local council candidate resources
MAV also have a guide to becoming a local government councillor in Victoria.
Mandatory candidate awareness training
Before becoming a candidate, you must complete Local Government Candidate Training and inform the Victorian Electoral Committee (VEC). This training is required even if you are or have previously been a councillor.
When submitting your nomination form, you must provide the time and date you completed the training. The training must be completed within two years before the election day to be valid.
Campaign donations returns
Nominated candidates are required under Victorian Law to provide campaign donation returns. All Victorian Local Government Elections candidates must submit a return within 40 Days of election day.
Learn more on the Victorian Government Election fact sheets.
The Campaign Donation Return Register is coming soon.
Elected councillor requirements
Congratulations! You have been elected.
Once elected, all councillors must complete the following mandatory training. The sessions are intended to upskill councillors, mayors, and deputy mayors to understand what is required of them and their function in Council.
- Councillor induction training must be completed within four months of taking the oath or affirmation of office.
- Professional development training will be completed each year of their term, beginning in the year following their election.
- Mayoral training must be completed by mayors, deputy mayors and acting mayors (if positioned for one month or more) within one month of appointment.
2024 Induction training dates
| Wednesday 12 November | 3.30 pm - 8 pm |
| Thursday 14 November | 9 am - 8 pm |
| Tuesday 19 November | 9.30 am - 7 pm |
| Tuesday 26 November | 3 pm - 8 pm |
| Tuesday 3 December | 9 am - 8 pm |
| Tuesday 10 December | 9 am - 8 pm |
| Thursday 12 December | Mandatory Mayor and Deputy Mayor training with MAV |
| Friday 13 December | Mandatory Mayor and Deputy Mayor training with MAV |
| Tuesday 17 December | 4 pm - 8 pm |
| Wednesday 18 December | 5 pm - 8 pm |