Council elections
Melaleuca Ward By-Election
A by-election for Melaleuca Ward will be held on Saturday 1 August 2026 due to the resignation of former Melaleuca Ward Councillor, Tess Law.
The election will be held by postal vote and run by the Victorian Electoral Commission (VEC).
Key election dates
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Monday 15 June
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Candidate nominations open
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Tuesday 23 June
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Candidate nominations close at 12pm |
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Monday 13 July
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Mailout of ballot packs to voters commences |
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Friday 31 July
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Close of postal voting at 6pm |
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Saturday 1 August
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Election Day |
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Thursday 13 August
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Declaration of result |
VEC Election Office
The VEC will operate an Election Office from Council's premises at 1230 Nepean Highway, Cheltenham, from Monday 15 June to Thursday 31 July.
Information for candidates
Nominations open on Monday 15 June and close at 12pm on Tuesday 23 June.
If you wish to stand as a candidate, see the VEC website for more information and resources and read Citizen to Councillor, the Municipal Association of Victoria’s guide to becoming a local government councillor in Victoria.
Further information about becoming a councillor at Kingston can be found in the Melaleuca Ward By-Election Prospective Candidate Handbook(PDF, 1MB).
VEC Candidate Information Session
The VEC will hold an online Candidate Information Session at 6pm on Wednesday 10 June. You can register to attend from Wednesday 3 June.
If you missed the session, information will be available on the VEC website until the election result is declared.
Prospective Candidate Handbook
- nomination requirements, eligibility criteria and key election dates
- guidance on preparing and running your campaign
- information regarding your legal obligations as a candidate
- an overview of the municipality and your role as a Kingston councillor.
The Handbook is supplementary information only and should be read in conjunction with the information provided by the VEC and MAV.
Political and election signs and street stalls
The following information reflects Council's position on the use of signage and promotions by candidates at Federal, State and Local government elections.
To discuss any requirements for election signage beyond these specifications, contact Council on 1300 653 356 or submit an online enquiry.
Any unauthorised electoral signage may be removed by the relevant Authority, with fees and/or fines applying.
Political advertising on Council property
Signage will not be permitted on any Council properties, recreation reserves, bushland reserves, and/or at any Council facilities.
Political advertising on Council roads
Electoral signage must not be placed on Council (non-arterial) roads without a valid Community Local Law permit. Please contact us on 1300 653 356 or submit an online enquiry for further information about permit requirements.
Political advertising at street stalls on Council land
A permit from Council is required to setup a stall/table to distribute leaflets/literature on Council land. Contact us on 1300 653 356 or submit an online enquiry.
Flyers under vehicle windscreen wipers
Flyers must not be placed under vehicle windscreen wipers.
Political advertising on private property
Political advertising is permitted to be placed on private land under the Advertising Planning Scheme.
Signs that include election information about a candidate are allowed on private land without a permit, under the following conditions:
- The display area does not exceed 5 square metres
- Only one sign is displayed on the land
- The sign is not animated or internally illuminated
- The sign is not displayed longer than 14 days after the related event is held or for 3 months in total, whichever is sooner.
- The sign has the name, street address and contact phone number of a person responsible for the sign.
If the land abuts a freeway or arterial road reserve, written consent from the Head of Transport for Victoria may be required.
Political advertising on arterial roads and freeways
All advertising and signage that is placed within the road reserve of an arterial road or freeway requires the prior written consent from the Head of Transport for Victoria.
Election campaign donation returns
Under the Local Government Act 2020, we publish a summary of all Election Campaign Donation Returns on our website.
Donation Returns must be submitted by candidates within 40 days of the election.
FAQs
See the frequently asked questions below for more information on how to vote or contact us with your question.
Do I have to enrol and/or vote?
State-enrolled: If you are a state-enrolled voter and reside in Melaleuca ward, you will automatically be enrolled to vote in the 2026 Kingston council by-election. Voting is compulsory. You risk receiving a fine from the VEC if you do not vote. You can check your enrolment status on the VEC website.
Check your enrolment status
Council-enrolled: If you are eligible for council-enrolled voting, it is optional and not compulsory to enrol in the 2026 council by-election. If you do choose to become a council-enrolled voter, you must vote or you risk receiving a fine.
Please note that if you chose to become a council-enrolled voter for the 2024 Council election, your name remains on the Council roll in perpetuity if you are an owner ratepayer or for the duration of the 2024-2028 council term if you are an occupier ratepayer or corporation nominee.
If you were included in the Council roll for the 2024 election and do not wish to vote in the by-election, you must formally resign your enrolment prior to the close of roll on Friday 20 May 2026 to avoid receiving a fine.
Want to apply to enrol or resign your enrolment as a Council-enrolled voter?
Learn more about eligibility and how to apply
What if I live overseas or will be away during the election?
If you're going to be away from your enrolled address during the by-election, you can visit the VEC website to learn more about your options.
What are the key dates?
The election will be held Saturday 1 August 2026 by postal vote. The VEC are working to confirm all the important details for this by-election. Postal voting packs are anticipated to be sent out in mid-July.
Enrolling to vote in Kingston
Please note that the voters' roll for the 2026 by-election closed on Friday 20 May. It is no longer possible to update your enrolment status for the Melaleuca Ward by-election; however, you may still update your status for future elections.
In a Victorian council election, there are two types of voters:
- State-enrolled: If you are on the state roll, you are automatically enrolled to vote in the council area in which you reside. Voting is compulsory.
- Council-enrolled: If eligible, you have the option to apply to enrol in a council area where you are a ratepayer but not a resident or a state-enrolled voter. Enrolment is optional. If you choose to enrol, voting in the election is compulsory.
You are entitled to one vote and if you are a state-enrolled voter, you will vote under this enrolment. Check your enrolment status on the VEC website.
State-enrolled voters
State-enrolled voters are automatically enrolled, and voting is compulsory. If you are a state-enrolled vote, that is the enrolment you use to vote. That means you must vote in the municipality in which you reside.
You must enrol and vote if you:
- are 18 years or older
- are an Australian citizen
- have lived at your address in Melaleuca Ward for longer than one month.
This includes both renters and owner-occupiers.
For more information or to check your enrolment status, visit the VEC website.
Council-enrolled voters
Please note that the voters' roll for the 2026 by-election closed on Friday 20 May.
If you applied to enrol for the local Council elections in 2024, you remain enrolled for any Council by-elections up until 2028. It will be compulsory for you to vote unless a resignation form is submitted by close of roll at 4pm on 20 May 2026.
Some ratepayers can apply to become council-enrolled voters in Kingston if they are:
- a property owner, occupier or represent a corporation
- 18 or older
- not a state-enrolled voter within the Kingston area.
Becoming a council-enrolled voter is optional, but if you choose to enrol, you must vote in the elections or risk receiving a fine.
See the VEC website for more detailed examples of who can enrol as a council-enrolled voter.
The rules for council-enrolled voters changed in 2024. These changes are explained below.
Owner ratepayer
Applying as an owner ratepayer is a one-time application process. Enrolling is optional.
You can apply to enrol in Kingston if you:
- own property and pay rates in the council area
- are 18 or older
- are not a state-enrolled voter who lives in Kingston.
This includes:
- Australian citizens who own a property in Kingston but do not live in the area (for example, an investment or a holiday home)
- non-citizens over 18 who own a property and live in Kingston.
Up to 2 ratepayers can apply to enrol per property, but each person only gets one vote.
If you choose to enrol as an owner ratepayer in the Kingston council elections, you must vote or you risk receiving a fine.
Occupier ratepayer
Occupier ratepayers must reapply at every general council election if they want to vote. Enrolling is optional.
You can apply to enrol in Kingston if you:
- pay rates for a property that you occupy but do not own
- are 18 or older
- are not a state-enrolled voter.
Up to 2 people per property can apply to enrol, but each person only gets one vote.
If you choose to enrol as an occupier ratepayer in the Kingston council elections, you must vote or you risk receiving a fine.
Corporations
You can apply to enrol to vote on behalf of a corporation if you:
- are a director or company secretary of a corporation that pays rates (either as an owner or an occupier) in the council area
- have consented to being appointed as the corporation’s representative
- are not already a state-enrolled voter or council-enrolled voter for the same council.
Only one person can apply to enrol as the corporation’s representative. Enrolling to vote is optional.
Resigning your enrolment
Owner ratepayer
If you no longer want to vote for that property, you can apply to council to take it off the council roll. If you sell your property, your council enrolment will automatically become invalid.
Occupier ratepayer
If you no longer want to vote for that property, you can apply to council to take it off the council roll.
Corporation
If you don’t want to vote for that property anymore, you can apply to resign your enrolment.
Do you want to resign your enrolment?
Contact us
Expiry of enrolment
Owner ratepayer
Your enrolment does not expire. Once enrolled, you will stay enrolled, and you must vote in all future local council elections, including by-elections for Kingston. If you don't vote, you risk receiving a fine.
Occupier ratepayer
If you want to continue to vote as an occupier ratepayer in future general council elections, you will need to apply to enrol again. You will receive an invitation when it’s time to renew your enrolment.
Corporation
If you want to continue to vote as a corporation in future general council elections, you will need to apply to enrol again. You will receive an invitation when it’s time to renew your enrolment.
Frequently asked questions (enrolling)
See the VEC's enrolling frequently asked questions for a comprehensive list.
Do I have to enrol and/or vote?
State-enrolled: If you are a state-enrolled voter and reside in Melaleuca ward, you will automatically be enrolled to vote in the by-election. Voting is compulsory. You risk receiving a fine if you do not vote. You can check your enrolment status on the VEC website.
Council-enrolled: If you are eligible for council-enrolled voting, it is optional and not compulsory to enrol in the by-election. If you do choose to become a council-enrolled voter, you must vote or you risk receiving a fine.
What if I live overseas?
If you own a property in Kingston but currently live overseas, the VEC website has more information on how to enrol and vote. On the page, scroll down to 'Special enrolment options' and open the 'Living, traveling or working overseas' accordion. If you have any questions, you can contact the VEC on 131 832.
Complaints about elections
Complaints related to the by-election should be directed to the Local Government Inspectorate and the VEC.