Early voting for the Victorian state election starts today, with a range of voting options available to residents including those Hume and Whittlesea.
“In-person voting is available at any early voting centre or election day voting centre in Victoria. For those who prefer a postal vote, applications are easily accessed online at vec.vic.gov.au,” a Victorian Electoral Commission (VEC) statement said.
“People who have been disrupted by the recent floods and have been able to return to their homes should use the VEC’s online Voting Centre Locator to see if their regular voting location is available, or whether it has had to be relocated.
“Victorians within the designated areas who are unable to vote in person on or before election day, will be eligible to vote by calling the VEC’s telephone assisted voting service from Saturday, November 19.
“The areas designated for telephone assisted voting are listed at vec.vic.gov.au/flood-affected-victorians. More areas may be added to this list, which has been developed following consultation with the Emergency Management Commissioner.”
Electoral commissioner Warwick Gately reminded people to use in-person and postal voting options if possible.
“Telephone assisted voting is available primarily for people who face significant barriers to voting in person or by post, including blind and low vision voters, those with a physical disability and, now also, those flood-affected voters who cannot get to a voting centre from Saturday November 19 to 6pm on Saturday November 19,” he said.
“If you are flood-affected and you are still able to access the internet and receive mail, please apply online for a postal vote to conserve the telephone voting service for those with no ability to receive mail or travel to a voting centre.”
VEC said a mobile voting team will visit the Mickleham Centre for National Resilience on Thursday, November 17 to take votes from those who have been temporarily relocated to that location.
“Flood-affected voters who qualify for telephone assisted voting, can call 13 57 23 from Saturday November 19 up to 6 pm on election day (Saturday 26 November) to register to vote by phone,” VEC said.
