THE ballot order draw for the Ballarat Council elections will be held in private on Tuesday afternoon around 1pm.
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Due to COVID-19 restrictions, the ballot will be conducted indoors at the Victorian Electoral Commission office which has been set up in Learmonth Street, Alfredton.
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Ballarat Election Manager Lynne Josephs said candidates have until 12noon on Tuesday to have their nominations in, with the ballot to be conducted in front of an independent observer once all the nominations have been processed.
The order will then be place on the front window of the electoral office, which will then be able to be viewed by the public and candidates.
Ms Josephs said this year would be unlike others, with no public or even candidates allowed at the draw.
"Unfortunately, no-one can enter the building for the draw," Ms Josephs said.
"The order will be posted on the front windows as soon as it is known."
Ms Josephs said ballots would be sent out across Ballarat within the first week of October, expected to arrive in letterboxes between Tuesday October 6 and Thursday October 8.
"It's important to stress this is an entirely postal vote," she said. "Ballots have to be returned by 6pm, Friday October 23."
As with all elections in Australia, voting is compulsory for municipal elections and you can be fined for not voting.
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