Election campaign update

Bayside City Council has no role in promoting candidates in the current Council elections.

As set out under the Local Government Act 2020, Council resources must not be used for electoral matter (other than explaining the election process).

Bayside voters are encouraged to carefully review information distributed by candidates to check that it is accurate and authorised appropriately.

Any concerns with campaign material can be reported to the Victorian Electoral Commission Bayside Election Manager on 03 8619 1406.

Mobile numbers not from VEC

With postal voting packs for the 2020 Victorian local council elections being delivered now to voters, active campaigning by candidates is evident.

In this context, the Victorian Electoral Commission (VEC) has moved to reassure voters that mobile phone numbers are not provided with the enrolment information available to candidates and registered political parties under Commonwealth and State legislation.

Electoral Commissioner, Warwick Gately, says some voters in the current local council elections have become concerned upon receiving text messages from local council candidates in their campaigning.

“I understand voters in a small number of wards have received text messages on behalf of candidates for local council elections. The messages were not sent using enrolment information available to them through the VEC,” says Mr Gately.

Upon being contacted by voters about the origin of the contact details, some council candidates mistakenly stated that they were provided by the VEC.

“I can definitively state that the VEC does not provide voter mobile phone number or email address details to candidates or political parties. If anyone is concerned, they should take it up directly with the candidate or the person who authorised the message,” says Mr Gately.

Find out more about the 2020 Bayside City Council elections.