Elections & voting
Victorian council elections are held every four years, and all voting is by post. The Victorian Electoral Commission (VEC) mails a ballot pack to every enrolled voter. Voting is compulsory for people on the state roll, and you may be fined if you don't vote. Mornington Peninsula elects one councillor for each of its 11 wards.
New to these terms? Read them in plain English
- Ward
- A subdivision of a council area that elects its own councillors.
- How the mayor is chosen
- Either elected directly by voters, or chosen by the councillors.
Election facts
- Next general election
- Saturday 28 October 2028General elections fall on the fourth Saturday in October every 4 years, unless there are exceptional circumstances (VEC Report to Parliament, Oct 2025, p.20).
- Briars Ward by-election (2026)
- Postal voting closes 6pm Friday 2 October; counting from Saturday 3 October 2026Held by post after Councillor Anthony Marsh resigned in May 2026. Voters on the roll at 4pm on Wednesday 22 July 2026 must vote. Two candidates are standing. The VEC will declare the result on its by-election page.By-election details →
- Last general election
- Saturday 26 October 2024
- How you vote
- By post — ballot packs are mailed to enrolled voters
- How Mornington Peninsula votes
- 11 wards, one councillor each; preferential countBeek Beek, Benbenjie, Briars, Brokil, Coolart, Kackeraboite, Moorooduc, Nepean, Tanti, Tootgarook and Warringine. This structure followed a VEC electoral structure review in 2023–24 and was first used in 2024. The Mayor is chosen by the councillors, not by voters.
- If a seat falls vacant
- By-electionIn a single-councillor ward, a vacancy with more than 6 months of the term left is filled by a by-election.
- Council enrolment (non-resident owners, occupiers, companies)
- Ask the Shire: (03) 5950 1080 or election.information@mornpen.vic.gov.auResidents enrol on the state roll through the VEC.
- Enrol / check enrolment
- Victorian Electoral CommissionCheck enrolment →
| Ward | Elected (2024) | Turnout |
|---|---|---|
| Beek Beek | Kate Roper | 85.56% |
| Benbenjie | Max Patton | 85.18% |
| Briars | Anthony Marsh (resigned May 2026) | 85.97% |
| Brokil | Patrick Binyon | 82.85% |
| Coolart | David Gill | 83.64% |
| Kackeraboite | Stephen Batty | 85.83% |
| Moorooduc | Bruce Ranken | 83.98% |
| Nepean | Andrea Allen | 82.68% |
| Tanti | Paul Pingiaro | 83.28% |
| Tootgarook | Cam Williams | 79.50% |
| Warringine | Michael Stephens | 80.22% |
2024 Mornington Peninsula Shire Council election: candidate elected in each ward and voter turnout. Source: Victorian Electoral Commission, 2024 results (finalised). Full first-preference counts and preference distributions are on the VEC page.
Sources — check it yourself
- Victorian Electoral Commission — 2024 Mornington Peninsula Shire Council election results · Nov 2024
- Victorian Electoral Commission — Briars Ward by-election · Sep 2026
- Mornington Peninsula Shire — Council elections (by-election key dates, council enrolment) · Sep 2026
- Victorian Electoral Commission — Local council elections (postal voting, compulsory voting) · Sep 2026
- Victorian Electoral Commission — Report to Parliament on the 2024 local government elections (PDF, p.20) · Oct 2025
- Victorian Electoral Commission — Council countbacks and by-elections · Sep 2026
- Victorian Electoral Commission — Mornington Peninsula Shire Council (electoral structure) · Sep 2026
Figures are current as at the dates shown and may change — always confirm with the linked source. See the notice at the bottom of the page for full details and how to report a correction.