The VEC collects personal information about candidates in the following circumstances:
- Nomination of candidates
When nominating, candidates must provide the VEC with name and address information and public contact information. If the candidate is not endorsed by a registered political party, the VEC also collects the names, addresses and signatures of a legislated number (depending on election type) of people entitled to vote at the election for which the candidate is nominated.
- How-to-vote cards
How-to-vote cards must be registered with the VEC (or the returning officer for local government elections). People applying to register a card must submit a copy of the card and must provide their name, contact address, telephone details and a signature.
- Candidate statements
In local council elections that are conducted by post, candidates may submit a statement to the returning officer. Candidate statements usually include a photograph of the candidate and may include the candidate's contact details. - Election expenditure
Following a parliamentary election, a registered political party or an independent candidate may claim for election expenses. In order to claim, they must provide the VEC with a statement of election expenditure. Such a statement may contain personal information about an independent candidate.
The VEC is required by the legislation to disclose candidate information in the following ways:
- Public inspection of candidate information
As candidates nominate in an election, we make their name, and the contact details provided, publicly available. We publish the details on the VEC website, we release them to the media, and we make them available for inspection at VEC offices.
- Candidate Statements
Candidate statements are included in the ballot packs that the VEC sends to all voters in local council postal elections. The VEC also places candidate statements on this website during the election period.
- Ballot papers
The VEC is responsible for printing ballot papers for an election. Ballot papers include the names of all candidates. Where appropriate, they also include the name of the registered political party that has endorsed the candidate.
- How-to-vote cards
The VEC must make all registered how-to-vote cards available for public inspection at the VEC office. For local government elections, election managers must make registered cards available for inspection at all relevant election manager offices and election-day voting centres.
- Group voting tickets
The VEC registers all group voting tickets and makes them available on this website and at each election day voting centre.
For a more detailed explanation of VEC's collection use and disclosure of candidate information, see section 2.4 of our Privacy Policy and Framework (PDF 263kB, DOC 352kB).
