Candidates
To become a candidate in a Council election, you must be enrolled on the voters’ roll for the election. You can nominate to be a candidate in any of the seven wards in the City of Maribyrnong.
The VEC provide information for candidates and parties on becoming a candidate in a council election which includes handbooks and forms, campaigning, funding and donations.
Below you will find information relating to:
Candidate Qualifications
To be a candidate for a council election, you must:
- Be an Australian citizen.
- Be aged 18 years of age or over.
- Be enrolled on the voters' roll for the council in which you wish to stand.
- Have completed the mandatory Local Government Candidate Training.
- Not be disqualified from being a councillor.
The Election Manager appointed by the VEC will reject a nomination from a person who is not enrolled on the voters’ roll for the election.
Disqualifications
You cannot be a candidate for any of the following reasons:
- You are an undischarged bankrupt.
- You have property that is subject to control under the law relating to bankruptcy.
- You are a member of council staff of the council – you can take leave from this role in order to nominate.
- You have been convicted of any of the criminal offences referred to in section 34(2) of the Act.
- You are a councillor with another council, including interstate councils.
- You are member of an Australian Parliament, including the Federal Parliament or a Member of Parliament in any state or territory of the Commonwealth of Australia.
- You are employed by a Federal or State Member of Parliament as a Ministerial Officer, a Parliamentary Adviser or an Electorate Officer – you can take leave from these roles in order to nominate.
- You are otherwise incapable of becoming or continuing to be a councillor.
Further details are outlined in the Local Government Act 2020. If unsure of you’re eligible, seek independent legal advice.
Stand for Council Session
Are you passionate about your local community and have the time and desire to make a difference?
If the answer to this question is yes, then you may be interested in attending the Municipal Association of Victoria’s (MAV) Stand for Council session, hosted at Wyndham City Council.
For more information and to register visit our Stand for Council event page.
Maribyrnong City Council Online Candidate Information Session
What do councils do? What is the role of a councillor? How can you represent your Maribyrnong community?
Maribyrnong City Council, in partnership with the Victorian Local Government Association, is holding an online information session to provide potential candidates an overview of what it means to stand for local government, including how councils work, the responsibilities of councillors and key issues to consider when considering standing for council.
For more information visit our Maribyrnong Online Candidate Information Session event page.