Council elections

The four wards of Tarrengower, Coliban, Calder and Loddon comprise one Councillor each, elected under the preferential voting system. The Castlemaine ward elects three Councillors under the proportional representation system of voting. All Councillors are elected by voters to govern the whole Shire.

Mount Alexander Shire Council’s general election for 2012 was conducted by the Victorian Electoral Commission (VEC) as a postal election. Ballot papers were posted to eligible Mount Alexander residents and ratepayers between 9 and 11 October 2012. To be included in the count completed ballots must have been received by the VEC by 6:00 pm on Friday 25 October 2012. Late ballots were not counted.

The VEC declared the result of the Election at the Castlemaine Town Hall at 5.00 pm on Sunday 28 October 2012. The new Councillors took the Oath or Affirmation of Office at the Statutory meeting of the new Council at 7.30 pm on Thursday 1 November 2012 at the Castlemaine Town Hall.

Extraordinary vacancies in multi-member wards and unsubdivided municipalities are filled by countback. A countback was conducted by the Victorian Electoral Commission on 13 October 2014, to fill a vacancy in the Castlemaine Ward, which is the only multi-member ward in the Shire. As a result of the countback Bronwen Machin was elected as Councillor.

In accordance with the Local Government Act 1989, each candidate in the election must give an election campaign donation return to the Chief Executive Officer, within 40 days after election day.

The return gives details of any gifts received by the candidate, or on behalf of the candidate, during the election period used for or in connection with the election campaign. This includes goods or services.

It is compulsory for Mount Alexander Shire residents on the voters roll to vote at an election for the Ward in which they reside. It is not compulsory for non-residents to vote.

Voters who are recorded as being 70 years of age and over will not be issued with a non-voting notice.

For further information on Council elections, visit the Victorian Electoral Commission website.