Candidates can start campaigning at any time, even before they have officially nominated. When campaigning, there are several key points that must be considered:
- All campaign materials, including advertising, must be properly authorised by the candidate (or a representative of the candidate's party) so that it is clear who produced it and who is accountable for it. Authorisation requirements can be found in the Candidate Handbook.
- Any how-to-vote cards handed out on election day within 400 mentres of a voting centre must be registered with the VEC (State elections) or the relevant returning officer (local council elections).
- All non-electoral laws still apply, such as those relating to defamation.
- Materials that are likely to mislead an elector in relation to the casting of their vote must not be printed or distributed as part of a candidate's campaign.
For more information about a candidate's responsibilities please consult the relevant
Candidate Handbook.
The position of each candidate on the ballot paper is determined by a computerised random draw after nominations close. This process is called the ballot draw and it takes place at the election office for each electorate.
Anyone can attend the election office for the ballot draw.
Computerised ballot draws have been used in Victoria since 1999 and guarantee fast and accurate transfer of data to the ballot paper printers.
Regular ballot papers (such as those for the State Lower House) use a single random draw.
Ballot papers that use above or below the line voting (such as those for the the State Upper House) are randomly drawn in three phases:
- the order of the parties and groups above the line;
- the order of the candidates for each party and group (unless they have been already specified); then
- the order of the independent (ungrouped) candidates.
The scrutineer's role is to observe the issuing of ballot papers and the counting of votes on behalf of a candidate.
Scrutineers are engaged by the candidate and their appointment must be made in writing. This notice must:
- specify the name and address of the scrutineer;
- be signed by the candidate; and
- be produced for inspection on request by an election manager, returning officer or other election official.
On election day, no more than one scrutineer per candidate is allowed per election official issuing ballot papers at a voting centre.
Scrutineers intending to be present at the count of ballot papers must report to the voting centre manager during the day, and be inside the voting centre by 6:00pm when the doors of the voting centre are locked.
During the counting, the number of scrutineers allowed per candidate is no greater than the number of officials engaged in counting the ballot papers.
For more information about scrutineers' responsibilities please consult the relevant Candidate or Scrutineer Handbook.
If there are the same number of candidates as there are positions to be filled, those candidates are elected without electors needing to vote. This is called being elected unopposed.
If there are no nominations for an election it is called a failed election. No voting takes place and another election is held as soon as possible.
If there are less candidates than positions to be filled, it is still called a failed election. No voting takes place and the candidates are elected unopposed. A by-election must be held for the remaining positions as soon as possible.
