For the third time, I have decided to stand in the upcoming elections. I now have an even better idea about what is involved in work as a Councillor, and am well-practised in the ins and outs of how things work. Would I have done it eight years ago if I had known what was involved? That’s a hard question to answer, as it’s not a light workload if you do the work required to do the job well. However, it’s a worthwhile thing to work hard at, and has direct benefits in making where we live better than it might be were it just up to administrators and disinterested bureaucrats and politicians who are distant from local issues and concerns. I’ve been privileged to meet many interesting and public-spirited people intent on helping others to live well in their local area, and have been happy to aid and assist them in any way that I can in my time as a Councillor. I hope that I can continue to do this if you vote me in once more.

With the elections, not only does your first candidate supporting vote count, but so too do your preferences.

Most councillors are not elected outright, but get enough votes made up from both a primary vote, but also if you put them second or third. However, enough primary votes, a ‘quota’, will see a candidate elected.

You do not have to vote as per a candidate’s “How to vote card”, but are free to choose the order of the candidates you think would be best to be elected.

If you put a candidate last in your preferences, then they will receive no run on votes from other candidates, and are much less likely to be voted in.

Candidates will have their own reasons for choosing who they prefer to give their votes to, which may include supporting other female candidates, holding the same values, or feeling that the other person is a strong candidate, who if elected on votes before them will then be able to pass their excess votes on.

Preferences do count, so it is up to you to question your candidates about the reasons behind their preferences. Voting as per their preferences may not result in the candidates you want to be elected being elected.

This election, the Victorian Parliament have decided not to allow a list of candidate’s preferences to be distributed with the Ballot Pack, so you will have to see how the candidates recommend that you vote in their election material.