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Do I have to vote?

Voting has been compulsory in Victorian State elections since 1926. If you are enrolled to vote, then you must vote in all Federal, State and council elections and statutory polls.

Under the Electoral Act 2002, the Victorian Electoral Commission is obliged to send notices to enrolled Victorians who appear not to have voted.

If you fail to vote without an adequate reason, you may be fined.

Are there age limits for voting?Top

You must be at least 18 years of age to vote in Australia.

There is no upper age limit to voting in Victoria. However, you are excused from voting in local council elections if you are aged 70 or more. In this case you will still be provided with a ballot pack and are welcome to vote.

Do I have to vote if I'm renting?Top

If you are enrolled you must vote at each federal, state and local council election that is relevant to your enrolled address, even if you do not own the property.

Voting is difficult for meTop

If you find it difficult to attend a voting centre on election day you can vote at an early voting centre or by post.

If you need assistance to vote, there are several options available to you.

If a relative is no longer capable of understanding voting, and you believe that they should be removed from the roll, their doctor will be required to provide formal advice using the elector no longer capable form (PDF 47kB).

All enrolment forms provided on the VEC website are in PDF format. You need Adobe Acrobat Reader (external link) to view the files. If you are having trouble accessing the files or would prefer a hard copy, please contact the VEC.