UPDATED: Federal Election – Candidates, Voting

The Australian Federal Election will be held on Saturday, May 3, 2025. Voting is compulsory for all eligible Australian citizens. Failing to vote without a valid reason may result in a fine. Here’s a detailed guide to help voters in Daylesford, Hepburn and surrounding communities.

Electoral Roll

The electoral roll has closed. Enrolments to vote in the upcoming election or changes in personal details are no longer possible. The Australian Electoral Commission (AEC) has reported that a record 98.2% of eligible Australians are now enrolled to vote, including 92.0% of eligible youth voters. Since the last federal election in 2022, the electoral roll has grown by 870,000 people.

Changes to Electoral Boundaries

Ballarat is Victoria’s largest inland city and the electorate includes all of the City of Ballarat local government area. It also extends north to include Clunes, Creswick and Daylesford, east to Gordon, and south to Linton, Meredith and Lethbridge. However, due to a redistribution in 2024, a number communities in the north-east of Hepburn Shire have moved into the seat of Bendigo. The affected communities include Clydesdale, Drummond, Dry Diggings, Franklinford, Glenlyon, Porcupine Ridge, Sandon, Tarilta and Yandoit.

The Ballarat electorate is one of the original 65 seats in the House of Representatives. Traditionally a marginal seat, it is now considered a relatively safe Labor seat with a margin of 13 percent in favour of Labor. In the 2022 election, Catherine King was re-elected for a seventh consecutive time securing 63% of the two-party preferred vote, with the Liberal candidate receiving 37%. The Greens gained 14.6% of the primary vote, United Australia Party 3.8%, and One Nation 3.6%.

Candidates for 2025

The full list of candidates for the Ballarat electorate has been announced by the Australian Electoral Commission. The candidates in ballot paper order are listed in the table below.

This will be a half-senate election. Six Victorian seats in the Senate will be elected and six senators will remain in their current seats. Seventy-nine candidates have nominated for the six available seats representing 26 political groups and an additional 12 independent candidates. Candidates for the Senate are listed on the AEC website. Current senators Ralph Babet, Sarah Henderson, Bridget McKenzie, Jana Stewart, Lidia Thorpe and Linda White have nominated for re-election.

Voting Options

Postal Voting

Applications for postal votes are now open. The AEC advises that if you are voting by post, it’s best to apply directly through the AEC, rather than through political party links, to protect your personal data and avoid delays.
Apply here: Postal Vote Application

Early Voting

Early voting begins Tuesday, April 22 and continues through to Friday, May 2. Note that early voting centres will be closed on Easter Monday (April 21) and ANZAC Day (Friday, April 25).

There are no early voting centres in Hepburn Shire, but nearby centres include:

• Ballarat

  • Central Wendouree Bowling Club, 1330 Gregory St, Lake Wendouree

  • St Andrews Hall, 5 Dawson St North, Ballarat

• Castlemaine

  • St Mary’s Catholic Church Hall, 70 Hargraves St, Castlemaine

Opening hours for these centres vary, so check the AEC website for local details.

Voting on Election Day

Polling places will be open on Saturday, May 3 from 8:00am to 6:00pm. Local polling places for Daylesford and nearby towns include:

• Daylesford Secondary College, 39 Smith Street, Daylesford

• Hepburn Primary School, 156 Main Road, Hepburn Springs

• Glenlyon Shire Hall, 32 Malmsbury Road, Glenlyon

• Yandoit Primary School, 74 High Street, Yandoit

If you’re unsure where to vote or whether your enrolment is up to date, you can check your details and find polling places by visiting the AEC’s Check my enrolment page.