VICIn ForceAct
Local Government Act 2020
266Voting is compulsory
Start here
Get a plain-English read of 266
Turn the raw legal text into a practical explanation grounded in Local Government Act 2020.
266 Voting is compulsory
(1) Subject to subsection (4), it is compulsory for a person who is enrolled under section 241 as a resident on the voters' roll to vote in any election for the ward in respect of which the person is enrolled.
S. 266(2) amended by No. 30/2022 s. 38, substituted by No. 3/2023 s. 12(1).
(2) Subject to subsection (4), for the purposes of the following elections, it is compulsory for a person who is enrolled under Division 1 on the voters' roll to vote in any election for the ward in respect of which the person is enrolled—
(a) the second general election to be conducted under section 257(1)(b);
(b) the general election of Councillors for the Whittlesea City Council or the Casey City Council to be held on the fourth Saturday in October 2024;
(c) the second general election of Councillors for the Moira Shire Council to be held on the fourth Saturday in October 2028;
(d) each general election conducted after the second general election or the elections specified in paragraphs (b) and (c).
**Notes**
1. Section 10(1) of the **Local Government (Whittlesea City Council) Act 2020** and section 10(1) of the **Local Government (Casey City Council) Act 2020** provide that a general election for the Whittlesea City Council and Casey City Council is to be held on the fourth Saturday in October 2024.
2. Section 10(1) of the **Local Government (Moira Shire Council) Act 2023** provides that a second general election for the Moira Shire Council is to be held on the fourth Saturday in October 2028.
(3) Unless subsection (4) applies, it is an offence against this Act to fail to vote as required by subsection (1) or (2).
1. 1 penalty unit.
(4) Subsection (1) or (2) does not apply if an exemption prescribed by the regulations applies to the person.