Councils must comply with special arrangements in the lead up to elections, during what is known as an election period. Special arrangements also apply during a by-election.

The election period arrangements are intended to ensure that Council actions do not interfere with the probity of the election process and to safeguard the authority of the incoming Council.

The next Victorian Local Government election will be held in 2028. A by-election for Morwell River Ward will be held on 1 August 2026.  

The Local Government Act 2020 provides direction about what kind of information can be published by Council and the use of Council resources during the Election Period, including by-elections. These resources include website and social media.

To avoid any potential breaches of the Act, all material published to the Council website and social media, including comments on posts, will be closely moderated during Election Periods.

In the days leading up to the Election Period, we may also remove any material currently on the website or our social media channels that could be considered electoral material.