How did you obtain my contact details?
All candidates standing at this election are provided with a voters roll for the ward in which they are standing. This includes your name and address details.
As I have been keen to speak directly with as many residents as possible to discuss my record on Council and priorities for the future, I have also used a range of other contact methods as well to make contact with voters. This has included phone calls and emails. I have compiled these contact details from a range of sources including from prior contacts people have made with me and public directories. No Council resources or information held by Council has been used.
If you would prefer that I delete your contact information from my contact lists, please email me at geoff@geofflake.com.au and I will delete your details.
What sort of election is this?
This is an election conducted entirely by post – just like every other Monash Council election has been since the first Monash Council was elected in 1997. It is not possible to vote on ‘election day’ as this is not an attendance election.
How are ballot papers sent out?
Ballot papers are mailed out in three equal tranches by the Victorian Electoral Commission between Tuesday 4 October and Thursday 6 October. It is quite usual for ballot papers for members of the same household to arrive on different days.
When should my ballot paper arrive?
Most ballot papers should arrive by Friday 7 October. However, as Australia Post is increasingly less dependable in how it processes mail, I would suggest that you not be worried about the non-delivery of your ballot paper until Wednesday 12 October.
What should I do if my ballot paper hasn’t arrived?
Voters who haven’t received their ballot pack by Wednesday 12 October should call (03) 8619 1737 during business hours to arrange a replacement.
When do I have to return my ballot paper
Your completed ballot material must be in the mail or hand-delivered to the election office by 6.00 pm on Friday 21 October.
How do I cast a valid vote?
You must number every square using consecutive numbers starting with ‘1’ for your preferred candidate. How you vote is up to you and it is completely your choice. Candidates might suggest how they would like you to vote but you are free to make up your own mind and number your ballot paper according to your own preferences.
Who can vote in Council elections
There are two main groups who are eligible to vote in council elections:
- Residents in the council area who are enrolled to vote for state and federal elections; and
- Owners of property in the council area but who live somewhere else and are on the electoral roll at that other location.
Is voting compulsory?
Yes, voting is compulsory for all voters on the state electoral roll as at 4.00 pm on Friday, 26 August 2016. The fine for not voting is $78. If you are not on the electoral roll in Monash but own property, you are eligible and encouraged to vote, but it is not compulsory to vote.
Is voting also compulsory for people over 70?
Yes, but the electoral commissions have a policy of not issuing a fine to a person over the age of 70 who does not vote.
I’m not sure if I am properly enrolled. Where can I check my enrolment?
You can check your enrolment at this link.
There are a lot of candidates standing. Who are all these people? Are they all for real?
There are a number of genuine candidates running to be elected but many are ‘dummy’ candidates who have nominated only to help another candidate to get elected. Unlike some other candidates, I have not encouraged or organised anyone to run as a dummy candidate.
I am receiving preference recommendations from two candidates: Greg Male and Vincent Chow who I am also recommending a 2nd and 3rd preference for respectively. They are both real candidates and would make terrific councillors. Greg is a former Monash mayor and councillor and Vincent founded the Glen Waverley Chinese Lantern Festival eight years ago and continues to chair the organising committee. Both live in Glen Waverley.
I am aware of one candidate who has been manipulated and mislead by a current councillor standing in another ward into encouraging preferences in their candidate statement for candidates who they have never met and did not want to support. That candidate has since distributed their own How-to-Vote Card preferencing in a completely different way. It is concerning that this candidate was coerced into doing something they did not want to do.
People organising ‘dummy’ candidates take advantage of the 200 word statement circulated for each candidate with the ballot papers. The person ‘organising’ the dummy candidate uses the dummy candidate’s statement to appeal to a particular demographic, ethnicity or political cause and then urges voters to preference in a particular way in order to cynically shepherd votes through to their preferred candidate. Often this other ‘main’ candidate who the ‘dummy’ is ‘supporting’ has a completely different position on those same issues highlighted by the ‘dummy’.
If you interested in whether a candidate is a ‘dummy’ trying to manipulate you and other voters, the usual rule of thumb is that if you have not received any material from that candidate or seen them out in the community seeking votes – chances are they are a dummy and not seriously trying or wanting to be elected. The other thing to watch for are the 200 word candidates statements sent with the ballot papers which urge a vote for one or more other candidates but where those same other candidates do not reciprocate in return. The obvious question arising of course being why a serious candidate would ever advocate a preference be given to another candidate when that other candidate does not do the same in return?
How can I find out more about who is standing?
There is lot of information on this website about me, my record on Council and my priorities. It is the best place to learn more about me.
For the other candidates, in addition to the material they distribute, you may also like to visit the VEC nominations page which contains a link to a fairly rudimentary candidate questionnaire which some councillors have completed. This is a link to candidate statements which are also included in the ballot pack posted to all voters.
Where can I find out more about the voting process?
The election is conducted independently of Monash Council by the Victorian Electoral Commission. The election office is located at the Monash Seminar and Training Centre, 1A Atherton Road, Oakleigh and is open to the public. The office is open from 9.00 am to 5.00 pm weekdays (excluding public holidays). All council election information can be found here. Should you have any other enquiries regarding the election contact the Returning Officer on (03) 8619 1737.
When will we know the result?
Ballot papers (providing they were posted by 6.00 pm on 21 October) can continue to be received until Friday, 28 October so a result for this election will not be known until after 28 October. It is likely that a result will become known over that weekend and the election will be formally declared by the returning officer on Monday, 31 October.
How would you like me to vote?
Below is how I will be completing my ballot paper and how I recommend you complete your one as well:
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