The Victorian Electoral Commission’s deadline for applying to register a political party for the November 26 election was on July 29, with the registration process taking up to four months.
In total, 23 parties have met the criteria within the time allowed to be registered as political parties for the election, with the incumbent Australian Labor Party government, led by Premier Daniel Andrews, not only having to hold off the Liberals and Nationals Coalition, but also several other parties with various priorities and motivations.
Recently registered parties include the United Australia Party, the Restore Democracy Sack Dan Andrews Party, New Democrats, Legalise Cannabis Victoria, Freedom Party of Victoria, Family First Victoria, Companions and Pets Party, and Angry Victorians Party, which is registered in Tatura.
Political parties are required to have at least 500 eligible members and the registration process includes the VEC writing to everyone on that list and asking them to confirm they are eligible members of the party.
If the VEC cannot confirm that 500 people are eligible members, the party will not be registered.
Parties that are not registered can still participate in the election, but will not receive the benefits of registered parties.
The VEC said it refused the Family Matters Australia Party’s application to be registered only on Monday, as it was unable to prove it had 500 members who were Victorian electors.
Other parties refused registration included the Australian Democrats, Australian Federation Party Victoria, FUSION: Science, Pirate, Secular, Climate Emergency, the Independence Party, and Indigenous-Aboriginal Party of Australia.
Registered political parties are entitled to have their name and logo next to candidates’ names on ballot papers, nominate candidates and lodge how-to-vote cards with the VEC centrally rather than with election managers, and ongoing enrolment information (which can be used only for permitted purposes).
To view a full list of the parties registered for this year’s state election, visit vec.vic.gov.au/candidates-and-parties/registered-political-parties/currently-registered-parties
Employment boost
The VEC says more than 64,000 Victorians have registered an interest in working at the November state election, many more than the 15,000 casual staff required.
Electoral Commissioner Warwick Gately said he was grateful that so many members of the public had stepped forward to help deliver the election.
‘’Even though it is a paid role, it’s encouraging to see the number of people who are prepared to give their own time to play a role in delivering Victoria’s democracy,“ he said.
“It demonstrates the level of importance the public places on fair, impartial elections being delivered.”
People are ineligible to work for the VEC on the election if they have been a candidate or held a position in parliament or local council in the past 10 years, or have been members of a political party in the past five years.
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