Council elections
Melaleuca Ward By-Election
The Melaleuca Ward By-Election was held by postal vote on Saturday 1 August 2026 due to the resignation of former Melaleuca Ward Councillor, Tess Law.
The Declaration of Election Results was made by the Victorian Electoral Commission (VEC) on Friday 14 August, with Nikki Kaur declared the elected candidate.
Voting results will be available on the VEC website.
Enquiries regarding voting
Council elections are administered by the VEC.
Should you receive an 'Apparent failure to vote notice', or have any enquiries regarding voting or your enrolment status on the State electoral roll, please telephone the VEC on 131 832 or visit the VEC website.
Candidate Election Campaign Donation Returns
Under the Local Government Act 2020, candidates for the Melaleuca Ward By-Election are required to submit an Election Campaign Donation Return to Council by
10 September 2026.
Returns may be submitted via the Election Campaign Donation Return Form and Council will publish a summary of returns once available.
Enrolling to vote in Kingston
It is no longer possible to update your enrolment status for the Melaleuca Ward by-election; however, you may update your enrolment 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.