Changes reflect voting habits

Victorians will head to the polls on November 28 for what election authorities have predicted will be the biggest state election in Victoria's history, with 4.6 million registered voters currently on the rolls.

And, voters will see a sweep of changes to how, when, and where people can cast their ballots this year.

The VEC has reshaped its footprint in line with changing voting habits. Fewer traditional election-day voting centres will operate, particularly in metropolitan areas, but there will be more early voting centres across the state.

The commission expects up to 60 per cent of Victorians will vote early. Early voting centres will open from Wednesday, November 18 through to Friday, November 27, with extended hours: 9am to 6pm on weekdays during the early voting period.

Early voting centres also will be open on election day, to avoid confusion experienced at previous polls. Voters do not need a reason to vote early or by post; both are available as matter of convenience.

One of the most significant reforms for voters is abolition of group voting tickets for the Legislative Council (upper house).
Victoria was the last jurisdiction still using the system where voters could mark a single "1" above the line and have their preferences distributed according to lodged party tickets.
From this election voters can still vote above or below the line.
• Above the line: you must now number at least 1 to 5 boxes for parties/groups.
• Below the line: you must number at least 1 to 5 individual candidates.
Ballots with fewer than the recommended preferences may not be informal, but preferences may exhaust earlier in the count.
Upper house districts will continue to elect five members each.
The VEC is working to update ballot instructions, public information and media material to explain the new system clearly to voters.
Mobile voting will be expanded from 322 locations at the last election to 400. This includes aged care facilities, hospitals, homeless shelters, prisons and similar venues. For the first time, every lower house district will have one low-sensory mobile voting facility, operating on Tuesday November 17.
Interstate and overseas in-person voting services will return after being curtailed during the COVID-19 period.