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| Elections in Victoria (Australia) | |
|---|---|
| Name | Elections in Victoria |
| Jurisdiction | Victoria, Australia |
| Type | Parliamentary elections |
| Voting system | Preferential voting, Single transferable vote |
| Major parties | Australian Labor Party, Liberal Party of Australia, The Nationals (Australia), Australian Greens |
| Legislative bodies | Victorian Legislative Assembly, Victorian Legislative Council |
| Electorate count | 88 (Legislative Assembly), 40 (Legislative Council) |
| Last election | 2022 Victorian state election |
Elections in Victoria (Australia) provide the mechanism by which Victorians choose representation for the Victorian Legislative Assembly, Victorian Legislative Council, local councils such as City of Melbourne, and for federal representation at the House of Representatives and Senate. Conducted under statutes like the Electoral Act 2002 (Victoria) and overseen by bodies including the Victorian Electoral Commission and the Australian Electoral Commission, Victorian elections are shaped by institutions such as the Supreme Court of Victoria and practices arising from precedents involving figures like Dame Nellie Melba only insofar as civic life reflects cultural history. Voting outcomes have been influenced by campaigns referencing events such as the Melbourne Cup or policy debates linked to infrastructure projects like the Melbourne Metro Rail Project.
Victoria uses preferential voting for the Victorian Legislative Assembly and proportional representation for the Victorian Legislative Council via single transferable vote models adapted from practices used in jurisdictions like Western Australia and theories associated with figures such as Thomas Hare and Carl Andræ. The Legislative Assembly consists of 88 single-member districts using full preferential voting akin to the Australian House of Representatives; the Legislative Council has 40 members elected from eight regions using group voting tickets and single transferable vote arrangements similar to reforms influenced by cases in New South Wales and recommendations from bodies like the Law Reform Commission. Voting methods adhere to statutory provisions such as the Electoral Act 2002 (Victoria), with eligibility criteria reflecting principles established in the Commonwealth Franchise Act 1902 and judicial interpretation by the High Court of Australia.
Electoral development in Victoria traces from colonial institutions like the Victorian Legislative Council (1851) and the Victorian gold rush era to federation events including the Federation of Australia (1901). Milestones include the extension of suffrage in acts influenced by reformers connected to movements including the Chartist movement and activists similar to Catherine Helen Spence and legal milestones adjudicated in courts such as the High Court of Australia. Party evolution shows transitions from early groupings around leaders like Sir Henry Parkes parallels to later formation of the Australian Labor Party and the Liberal Party of Australia under leaders like Robert Menzies while state figures such as John Cain (Senior) and Jeff Kennett shaped Victorian politics. Electoral reforms followed inquiries like those conducted by the Commonwealth Grants Commission and commissions in response to events including the 1923 Victorian state election and the reforms of the late 20th century.
State elections in Victoria determine membership of the Victorian Parliament while federal elections determine representatives to the Parliament of Australia, including the House of Representatives and Senate. Interaction between federal and state jurisdictions involves institutions like the Australian Electoral Commission for federal enrolment and the Victorian Electoral Commission for state matters, with legal frameworks referencing the Australian Constitution and intergovernmental bodies such as the Council of Australian Governments. State legislation like the Electoral Act 2002 (Victoria) operates alongside federal statutes such as the Commonwealth Electoral Act 1918 to allocate responsibilities for redistributions, enrolment maintenance, and dispute resolution involving tribunals like the Administrative Appeals Tribunal.
Redistributions for Victorian electorates are conducted periodically by the Victorian Electoral Boundaries Commission and processes reflect principles applied by commissions such as the Australian Electoral Commission at federal level. Redistributions respond to demographic change in areas including Melbourne suburbs like Sunshine, Victoria and regional centres like Geelong and Ballarat, Victoria, using census data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics and legal criteria informed by cases heard in the High Court of Australia. Redistributions have affected electorates like Albert Park, Victoria and Bellarine and involved considerations of community of interest, representation of Indigenous communities like those of the Kulin nations, and statutory timelines set by the Electoral Act 2002 (Victoria).
Enrolment procedures in Victoria require citizens to register with the Victorian Electoral Commission or the Australian Electoral Commission depending on election type; requirements derive from the Electoral Act 2002 (Victoria) and the Commonwealth Electoral Act 1918. Voting mechanisms include in-person voting at polling places such as community halls and institutions like RMIT University campuses, postal voting as used in events like the 2020 Victorian state election adjustments, and early voting options inspired by practices in the United Kingdom and New Zealand. Compulsory voting obligations reflect precedents from the Commonwealth Franchise Act 1902 and enforcement interacts with administrative penalties adjudicated by bodies like the Magistrates' Court of Victoria.
Major parties contesting Victorian elections include the Australian Labor Party, Liberal Party of Australia, The Nationals (Australia), and Australian Greens; minor parties such as Derryn Hinch's Justice Party, Pauline Hanson's One Nation, and the Shooters, Fishers and Farmers Party also participate. Candidate preselection and endorsement processes are run by party organizations including the Victorian Branch of the Australian Labor Party and the Liberal Party of Australia (Victorian Division), with notable Victorian politicians such as Daniel Andrews, Matthew Guy, Ted Baillieu, Denis Napthine, and historical figures like Catherine Helen Spence shaping party narratives. Campaign finance regulation involves oversight by the Victorian Electoral Commission and interacts with statutory limits similar to frameworks in the Commonwealth Electoral Act 1918 and tribunal reviews by the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal.
Administration of Victorian elections is principally the responsibility of the Victorian Electoral Commission which implements policies on ballot design, staffing, and vote counting; the Australian Electoral Commission administers federal ballots in Victoria. Integrity frameworks involve electoral offences in the Electoral Act 2002 (Victoria), enforcement agencies like the Independent Broad-based Anti-corruption Commission, and judicial review by courts including the Supreme Court of Victoria and the High Court of Australia. Measures to maintain integrity incorporate auditing practices used by the Victorian Auditor-General's Office, electoral enrolment verification aligned with the Australian Electoral Commission, and technology assessments referencing standards set by bodies such as the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation. Contemporary debates over integrity reference incidents and reviews involving electoral funding disclosures related to entities such as business groups active in Melbourne and advocacy by organizations like the Law Institute of Victoria.