Some have sent out how-to-vote flyers listing detailed suggestions for voters; some have outlined their views on social media while others have limited their instructions to clear political allies.

Several have told The Courier they deliberately steered away from a prescriptive approach, saying that it was up to each voter to decide who gets their vote on merit.

In the City of Ballarat, independent candidates appear the most likely to have taken this approach - although not all of them did. North ward candidate David Harris articulated this view most forcefully, saying he thought how to vote cards "dumbed down democracy" and that voters should not let others decide for them. Both Nick Shady and Mark Harris - also independents - in the central ward, have taken a similar stance.

Even candidates of the same political hue are taking different tacks on detailed how-to-vote guidance to voters.

The two Labor-endorsed candidates in south ward for example - Des Hudson and Bridget Aitchison - have given a detailed list of preferences, although Cr Hudson did not send out how-to cards.

However, Labor candidates in Central Ward Geoff Howard and Kumuda Simpson, are only listing each other on their promotional material.

Cr Daniel Moloney in North Ward has adopted the same tactic, having switched from a detailed listing he had issued previously. He said he had withdrawn his previous support for Cr Grant Tillett, who was listed as third preference, due to the latter's failure to apologise for swearing about a moderator in an online forum.

Endorsed Greens candidates have also taken a mixed approach, with deputy mayor Cr Belinda Coates asking Central Ward voters to vote for her first then number their votes according to their own preference. Jackson Snep and Ellen Burns (Greens candidates for the South and North Wards respectively) have issued detailed preferences.

Others are a reflection of the stark divisions that have emerged in this final year of council. Some current councillor have strikingly low preferences for their co-councillors - Daniel Moloney placed Amy Johnson eighth in his original how-to vote card for example; Amy Johnson lists Grant Tillett eighth (last) in her preferences while Samantha McIntosh placed councillors Coates and Harris seventh and eighth respectively.

The system used in multi-councillor ward municipalities such as Ballarat is known as "proportional counting". Under this system, it means if voters do not list every candidate according to their preference, their vote is not counted.

To be elected, candidates need to reach a quota of the total votes cast. Quotas vary according to the number of votes cast. Few candidates will receive that quota based on first preferences alone. The candidate with the fewest votes will have their votes transferred to those ranked number two on ballot forms so these secondary votes can still influence the result of the election.

Once a candidate has achieved the quota they need to be elected, secondary preferences on their ballot papers are transferred to other candidates - but at a lesser value.

A spokesperson for the Victorian Electoral Commission (VEC) told The Courier that the preferences listed on ballot papers are manually entered onto a computerised system on receipt. Given the complicated nature of the proportional voting system, the results are calculated automatically by computer.

Counting will begin as soon as polls close on October 23, with votes set to be accepted as they are received in the post until October 30.

Results are expected to be issued by November 13 at the latest, although the VEC has said there is a possibility results could be delayed due to the extra precautions they need to take for social distancing.

EXPLANATION OF THE QUOTA SYSTEM (from the VEC)

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