Importantly, these elections will be held by postal voting only in October 2020 due to the pandemic.
The 2020 Knox City Council elections will be held by full postal voting. This means ballot packs will be mailed to every person enrolled on the Knox City Council voters’ roll, from Tuesday 6 October.
Voters must have posted or hand-delivered their completed ballot material by 6pm on Friday 23 October 2020 for their vote to count. It is important to note that as the election is being held entirely by postal voting, there will be no voting on Election Day (24 October
2020).
Voting is compulsory. If you are enrolled to vote, you must vote or risk being fined.
You must be at least 18 years of age to vote in Australia. There is no upper age limit so unlike previous local government elections, people over the age of 70 are required to vote.
If you are yet to enrol or want to update your enrolment details, you need to do so by 28 August 2020.
For more information, regarding information on who can vote, different entitlements, how to apply to vote, voters’ roll privacy and what happens if you don’t vote visit the Victorian Electoral Commission (VEC) website.
More information will be communicated by the Victorian Electoral Commission (VEC) over coming months.
If you’re not sure where to vote…
Victorians unsure which local council election they must vote in can quickly and easily check using the ‘Find My Council’ feature on the VEC (Victorian Electoral Commission) website.
‘Find My Council puts you one click away from finding out about voting deadlines, the candidates who have nominated in your area, and when the time comes, the results for your council’s election,’ Electoral Commissioner Warwick Gately says.
To find out more about the new feature or to access information about the October 2020 local council elections, visit vec.vic.gov.au.
Candidate for Friberg Ward: Susan Laukens
Susan Laukens is a candidate for Friberg Ward which includes parts of Ferntree Gully around Mountain Gate and parts of Knoxfield and Rowville.
Susan has lived in Knoxfield with her husband and two daughters for over 13 years, and for 26 years has served the community as a registered nurse. She is currently president of Knox Community Gardens Society Inc..
Susan says, ‘I am a truly independent candidate putting our community first! I will be held accountable to the residents of Friberg and greater Knox. I will not be influenced by party politics, and I will uphold your trust and serve my full four year term.’
Contact Susan on 0492 820 666 or email friberg@susanlaukensforknox.com.au
Candidate for Dobson Ward: Mike Koclega
‘I’m a creative, empathic, analytical and resilient 36-year-old electronic music artist, freelance data engineer, and a former logistics officer in the Army Reserve.
‘Last December I returned home, having lived abroad in Amsterdam and Kuala Lumpur for nine years. These experiences exposed me to unique and diverse lifestyles and perspectives not found in Australia. My time away from home has instilled profound gratitude for our unique foothills environment and lifestyle, and sense of community found in Ferntree Gully, which has been my family home for 20 years.
‘I want to listen to the needs of the community with empathy and provide a way forward that supports the community, nurtures the environment and ensures wellbeing.’
Contact Mike on 0492 995 382 or email contact@mike4knox.info
