Become a Candidate

To be a candidate for a local council election, you must:

  • be an Australian citizen aged 18 or more
  • 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

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, or
  • you are otherwise incapable of becoming or continuing to be a councillor.

Further details are outlined in the Local Government Act 2020.
To learn more about becoming a candidate, visit www.vec.vic.gov.au/candidates-and-parties/becoming-a-local-council-candidate