It's time for state- and council-enrolled voters to be ready to cast their vote in the upcoming local election for Ararat Rural City Council.
The election will be conducted by post - a safe and completely secret method of voting.
The roll call closes on Wednesday 7 August at 4pm, so residents and rate-payers must ensure they are correctly enrolled by this date. As this is a postal election, it is critical voters check that their address details are correct.
"If you're an Australian citizen and recently turned 18, or moved and haven't updated your address, or if you've just closed your post office box with Australia Post, you can enrol or update your details online at vec.vic.gov.au/enrolment," says Electoral Commissioner Sven Bluemmel.
People living outside the Rural City of Ararat who pay rates for a property they own in the Rural City of Ararat, non-Australian citizens who occupy and pay rates on a property in the Rural City of Ararat, or a representative of a company or business operating in the Rural City of Ararat, should have already received a letter on how to enrol from Council. If you believe you fall into this category and are not enrolled to vote, you can apply to enrol by calling Council's Customer Service team on 5355 0200.
Bluemmel also stressed it is now compulsory for council-enrolled voters to vote in the elections (in contrast to previous years).
Voters who will be away during the election period can have their ballot pack redirected to an address of their choice by completing a redirection form online at vec.vic.gov.au by Monday 9 September.
