The deadline is approaching for voting in Victoria's local government elections - but some voters have still not received their ballot papers.
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Next Friday (October 23) is the final date for ballot papers to be sent or handed in.
The Victorian Electoral Commission is urging voters who have not received election material by Friday October 16 to get in touch.
Voting is compulsory in the elections, with people liable to receive a fine of $83 if they do not submit their ballot papers in time.
The elections will lead to 76 new councils being formed across the state. There are three councils - Whittlesea, Casey and South Gippsland - where voting is not taking place as the councils are currently under an administrator.
Across the state of Victoria, around 4.33 million voters are due to take part in an election that will be conducted entirely by postal ballot for the very first time across the state. A postal ballot had already been established in some municipalities, including in Ballarat.
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There are nine council seats being contested in the City of Ballarat area, spread evenly across three different wards.
In the Pyrenees there are five seats, in Moorabool Shire there are seven, in Hepburn Shire there are five, and in Golden Plains there are seven seats being contested.
For the City of Ballarat, it will be the final time the existing three-councillor ward system will be used, with a one-councillor ward system due to be introduced in 2024.
Ballot papers must be posted before final mail clearance times on October 23. They can also be hand-delivered to the election office at 117 Learmonth Street in Alfredton by 6 pm on that date.
The Victorian Electoral Commission is urging any voter who still has not received a ballot pack by Friday October 16 to call the election office immediately on 1300 106 031 and arrange a replacement.
- Follow the Courier's full coverage of local Ballarat council elections here.