Enrolling as a ratepayer in Golden Plains Shire
In a Victorian local council election there are 2 types of voters:
- State-enrolled
- Council-enrolled.
You have one vote in Golden Plains Shire. If you are a state-enrolled voter, that is the enrolment you use to vote.
State-enrolled voters
You must enrol and vote if you:
- Are 18 years or older.
- Are an Australian citizen.
- Have lived at your address in Golden Plains Shire for longer than one month.
For more information visit the VEC website
Council-enrolled voters (ratepayers)
Some ratepayers can apply to become council-enrolled voters in Golden Plains Shire if they are:
- A property owner, occupier or represent a corporation.
- 18 or older.
- Not a state-enrolled voter within the Golden Plains Shire area.
These are known as council-enrolled voters and they fall into 3 categories.
Owner ratepayers
You can apply to enrol in Golden Plains Shire if you:
- Own property and pay rates in the council area.
- Are 18 or older.
- Are not a state-enrolled voter who lives in Golden Plains Shire.
- This includes:
- Australian citizens who own a property in Golden Plains Shire but do not live in the area (for example an investment or a holiday home).
- Non-citizens over 18 who own a property and live in Golden Plains Shire.
Up to 2 ratepayers can apply to enrol per property.
Owner ratepayers’ enrolment does not expire, but they can apply to resign their enrolment.
Occupier ratepayers
You can apply to enrol in Golden Plains Shire if you:
- Pay rates for a property that you occupy but do not own.
- Are 18 or older.
- Are not a state-enrolled voter within the Golden Plains Shire area.
Up to 2 people per property can apply to enrol.
Occupier ratepayers’ enrolment expires before the next local government general election.
If you want to continue to vote, you must apply to enrol again before the next local council general election (2028).
Golden Plains Times will send you an invitation when it is time to renew your enrolment.
If you were enrolled for the local council general elections in 2024, you will remain enrolled for any council by-elections up until 2028. It will be compulsory for you to vote.
Corporations
You can apply to enrol to vote on behalf of a corporation if you:
- Are a director or company secretary of a corporation that pays rates (either as an owner or an occupier) in the council area.
- Have consented to being appointed as the corporation’s representative.
- Are not already a state-enrolled voter or council-enrolled voter within the Golden Plains Shire area.
Only one person can apply to enrol as the corporation’s representative.
Corporation representatives’ enrolment expires before the next local government general election.
If you want to continue to vote, you must apply to enrol again before the next local council general election (2028).
Golden Plains Shire will send you an invitation when it is time to renew your enrolment.
If you were enrolled for the local council general elections in 2024, you will remain enrolled for any council by-elections up until 2028. It will be compulsory for you to vote.
If you meet the criteria
If you fall into any of these categories, you can contact us by calling 5220 7111 or email [email protected] to apply to enrol.
Once you are enrolled, you must vote in future elections. If you don’t vote, you may get a fine.
More information
To apply to become or check if you are a council-enrolled voter in Golden Plains Shire, contact us on 5220 7111 or [email protected].
For information about Victorian elections, visit the VEC website.