Victorian state election 2026: Enrolment closes on 3 November as voting rules change
Eligible voters have until 8pm on 3 November to enrol or update their details before Victoria’s 28 November election.
Eligible Victorians have until 8pm on Tuesday, 3 November, to enrol or update their electoral details before the state election on 28 November. The election will be the first Victorian state election under the revised upper house voting system, which removes group voting tickets and requires voters to number at least five boxes on the upper house ballot paper. The changes mean voters will have more direct control over how their preferences are allocated when electing members of the Legislative Council.
Who can vote?
People must generally meet three requirements to enrol to vote in a Victorian state election: they must be Australian citizens, be at least 18 years old and have lived at their address for at least one month. A small number of British subjects who were already on an Australian electoral roll before 26 January 1984 also remain eligible. Permanent residents and international students who are not Australian citizens are not eligible to vote.
Voting is compulsory for eligible enrolled voters. Those who do not vote may receive a fine. The Victorian Electoral Commission (VEC) says the electoral roll closes at 8pm on 3 November. Eligible voters can enrol or update their details through the Australian Electoral Commission website.
How has upper house voting changed?
Victoria’s Parliament has two houses: the Legislative Assembly, or lower house, and the Legislative Council, or upper house. Under the previous system, voters could mark a single box above the line on the upper house ballot paper, allowing preferences to be distributed according to a registered group voting ticket. These tickets could include preference arrangements between political parties. The revised system removes group voting tickets, giving voters direct control over their preference order. According to the VEC’s instructions, voters must number at least five boxes on the upper house ballot paper.
Those voting above the line must number at least five groups of candidates in order of preference. Those voting below the line must number at least five individual candidates. Voters can number more than five boxes, but they must not number boxes both above and below the line on the same ballot paper. The lower house ballot paper follows a different rule: voters must number every box in order of preference.
The VEC has published examples and instructions on its How to fill out state ballot papers page.
Who is contesting the election?
Premier Ben Carroll became Victorian Labor leader and premier on 28 July 2026, following Jacinta Allan’s resignation. Ms Allan announced her departure after a leadership challenge within the party, just months before the election. Jess Wilson has led the Liberal Party and the opposition since November 2025. Ellen Sandell has led the Victorian Greens since April 2024. The election will determine the composition of the 88-seat Legislative Assembly. A party or coalition needs the support of at least 45 members to command a majority in the lower house.
The Legislative Council has 40 members, with five elected from each of Victoria’s eight regions. Its composition can affect whether legislation introduced by the government passes.
Campaign pledges and points of difference
Both major parties have begun announcing election commitments. Mr Carroll said a re-elected Labor government would direct all mineral resource royalties to regional Victoria, which he estimated at $500 million over four years, to fund regional infrastructure including schools and hospitals.
“If the wealth comes out of regional Victoria, the wealth should go back into regional Victoria, it’s that simple,” he said.
Ms Wilson said a Coalition government would establish 10 technical colleges across the state, enrolling students full time from years 10 to 12, at an estimated cost of $222 million over eight years. “My team is backing the next generation of tradies to get the skills they need sooner for a rewarding career,” she said.
The future of Victoria’s treaty legislation is a further point of difference. The Statewide Treaty legislation became law in November 2025 under the former Labor government, establishing the First Peoples’ Assembly of Victoria as a permanent representative and decision-making body for First Peoples within the state’s treaty framework. The Coalition has pledged to repeal the legislation within its first 100 days if elected.
The Coalition has also proposed police powers involving handheld metal detectors, which it calls “Jack’s law”, as part of its public safety platform. Election commitments are proposals rather than laws already in force. The outcome of the election will determine which policies a new government can seek to implement.
When and where can voters cast their ballots?
Election day is Saturday, 28 November. Voting centres will be open from 8am to 6pm, and voters can attend any voting centre in Victoria on election day. Early voting is scheduled to run from Wednesday, 18 November, until 6pm on Friday, 27 November. Applications for postal voting open on Wednesday, 4 November, and close at 6pm on Wednesday, 25 November. The VEC provides information about voting arrangements, voting centres and assistance for voters who need language support. Enrolment closes at 8pm on 3 November. Voting centres open at 8am on 28 November.
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