47 Voter franchise includes citizens No change to voting entitlement. Proposed direction 41 had two options as follows: Retention of the existing voter on the state roll and property franchise is supported. franchise voters. the entitlement to vote in a council election to “41 Make be on the register of electors for the Victorian Legislative Assembly (the State roll) for an address in their municipality. Grandfather the voting entitlements of existing property-franchise voters in that municipality. Institute compulsory voting for all enrolled voters. (Option1) Maintain the existing franchise but cease automatic enrolment of property owners and require these voters to apply to enroll for future council elections if they choose to do so. Institute compulsory voting for all enrolled voters. (Option2).” submission was options 1 and 2 be MAV’s “that opposed because they disenfranchise key stakeholders in the municipality and that retention of the franchise provisions in the current Act be The supported.” exposure draft accords with position. MAV’s 48 Elections may be conducted by The Minister determines a uniform Proposed direction 44 was to: The voting method should continue post or attendance at the election method (post, attendance to be at the discretion of individual discretion of the council. or other method) at least 12 months councils. Require adoption of a uniform voting method for “44. before the general elections based council elections as determined by the Minister after on advice from the VEC. receiving advice from the VEC. Have the Minister publish the method to be used in the government gazette 12 months before the general elections.” submission was to support the retention of both MAV’s postal and attendance voting in the new Act. The new provisions also provide for another method such as electronic voting in the future. There was strong feedback from the MAV sector consultation sessions that individual councils should be able to choose the
47 Voter franchise includes citizens on the state roll and property franchise voters. No change to voting entitlement. Proposed direction 41 had two options as follows: “41 Make the entitlement to vote in a council election to be on the register of electors for the Victorian Legislative Assembly (the State roll) for an address in their municipality. Grandfather the voting entitlements of existing property-franchise voters in that municipality. Institute compulsory voting for all enrolled voters. (Option1) Maintain the existing franchise but cease automatic enrolment of property owners and require these voters to apply to enroll for future council elections if they choose to do so. Institute compulsory voting for all enrolled voters. (Option2).” MAV’s submission was “that options 1 and 2 be opposed because they disenfranchise key stakeholders in the municipality and that retention of the franchise provisions in the current Act be supported.” The exposure draft accords with MAV’s position. Retention of the existing voter franchise is supported. 48 Elections may be conducted by post or attendance at the discretion of the council. The Minister determines a uniform election method (post, attendance or other method) at least 12 months before the general elections based on advice from the VEC. Proposed direction 44 was to: “44. Require adoption of a uniform voting method for council elections as determined by the Minister after receiving advice from the VEC. Have the Minister publish the method to be used in the government gazette 12 months before the general elections.” MAV’s submission was to support the retention of both postal and attendance voting in the new Act. The new provisions also provide for another method such as electronic voting in the future. There was strong feedback from the MAV sector consultation sessions that individual councils should be able to choose the The voting method should continue to be at the discretion of individual councils.