Victorians vote on Saturday 28 November. The enrolment deadline falls on Melbourne Cup Day, and several rules have changed since 2022. Here is what Daylesford and Hepburn Springs voters need to know.
Daylesford and Hepburn Springs will help choose a new member of parliament at the Victorian state election on Saturday 28 November.
Both towns are in the lower house district of Macedon and the upper house region of Northern Victoria. Macedon’s sitting MP, Labor’s Mary-Anne Thomas, announced in April that she will not contest the seat again. Macedon will have a new MP for the first time since 2014.
The first deadline comes early. The electoral roll closes at 8pm on Tuesday 3 November, which is Melbourne Cup Day. If you are not correctly enrolled by then, you will not be able to vote. Voting is compulsory for enrolled Victorians, so check your enrolment now.
Your two ballot papers
When you vote you will get two ballot papers, one for each house of the Victorian Parliament.
Legislative Assembly (lower house): Macedon District. Macedon elects one MP. It is one of 88 districts and takes in all of Macedon Ranges Shire and around half of Hepburn Shire, including Daylesford and Hepburn Springs. On this ballot paper, number every box in order of your preference.
Legislative Council (upper house): Northern Victoria Region. Northern Victoria is one of eight regions, and each region elects five MPs. Macedon District sits within it.
Not everyone in Hepburn Shire votes in Macedon, as parts of the shire are in Ripon District. If you live outside Daylesford and Hepburn Springs, check your district on the VEC’s interactive electoral map.
What’s changed since 2022
Parliament amended the Electoral Act three times in 2026. These are the changes voters will notice.
- Earlier roll close. The roll now closes at 8pm on the day the election writs are issued, this year Tuesday 3 November. That is a week earlier than at past elections.
- New upper house rules. Group voting tickets, which let parties direct preferences when voters marked a single box above the line, have been abolished. You must now number at least five boxes, either above the line for parties and groups or below the line for individual candidates.
- Shorter early voting. Early voting can now start no more than 10 days before election day. It runs from Wednesday 18 to Friday 27 November.
- Shorter nomination period. All candidates must nominate between 9am Wednesday 4 November and 12 noon Monday 9 November. Independents must lodge their nomination in person at the district election office.
- Low-sensory voting. Every district will hold a quieter voting session from 10am to 4pm on Tuesday 17 November. It is designed for neurodivergent voters and people with sensory needs, with extra space, a quieter venue, softer lighting and staff on hand to support voters with non-visible disabilities. The VEC will announce the Macedon location closer to the date.
- One set of venues. Every early voting centre will also be open as a voting centre on election day.
- A guide in your letterbox. The VEC will post its printed EasyVote guide to every household.
Key dates
The official election period runs just under four weeks, from the issue of writs on Melbourne Cup Day to election day.
| Date | What happens |
|---|---|
| Tuesday 3 November | Writs issued at 6pm; electoral roll closes at 8pm |
| Wednesday 4 November | Candidate nominations open at 9am; postal vote applications open |
| Monday 9 November | Nominations close at 12 noon |
| Tuesday 17 November | Low-sensory voting, 10am to 4pm |
| Wednesday 18 November | Early voting and telephone-assisted voting open |
| Wednesday 25 November | Postal vote applications close at 6pm |
| Friday 27 November | Early voting closes at 6pm |
| Saturday 28 November | Election day, voting 8am to 6pm |
How to vote
There are several ways to cast your vote.
- Early, in person: Wednesday 18 to Friday 27 November, 9am to 6pm every day except Sunday 22 November. You don’t need a reason to vote early.
- By post: Anyone can apply, from Wednesday 4 November until 6pm Wednesday 25 November. Ballot packs go out once nominations close and candidates are confirmed.
- On election day: Saturday 28 November, 8am to 6pm, at any voting centre in Victoria.
- By phone: Voters who are blind, have low vision or have a motor impairment can register to vote by phone from Wednesday 18 November.
- Braille ballot papers: Register by 5pm Monday 2 November by calling 131 832.
- In aged care: The VEC will run mobile voting in some nursing homes and aged care facilities. Ask your facility whether it will host a session.
If you have moved house since 2022, update your enrolment before 8pm on 3 November. You can also sign up for free VoterAlert SMS and email reminders.
For more information, visit the VEC’s 2026 state election page or call 131 832.
The Wombat Post will publish the candidates for Macedon and Northern Victoria after nominations close on 9 November, along with local voting centre details once the VEC releases them.
