In short: For the Victorian election 2026, you must be correctly enrolled by 8pm on Tuesday 3 November, Melbourne Cup Day. Early voting runs from 18 to 27 November, postal vote applications close on 25 November, and election day is Saturday 28 November.

Victorians vote on Saturday 28 November, but the deadline that catches people out comes much earlier: the electoral roll closes at 8pm on Tuesday 3 November, which is Melbourne Cup Day.

Changes to the Electoral Act 2002 since the last state election in 2022 have shortened several steps in the timetable. Here is what the Victorian Electoral Commission (VEC) says you need to know.

Victorian election 2026 key dates

All dates are from the VEC's 2026 state election page.

  • Tuesday 3 November, 8pm: the roll closes. You must be correctly enrolled by then to vote.

  • Wednesday 4 November, 9am: candidate nominations open.

  • Monday 9 November, 12 noon: nominations close for all candidates.

  • Wednesday 18 November: early voting starts. It runs until 6pm on Friday 27 November.

  • Wednesday 25 November, 6pm: postal vote applications close.

  • Saturday 28 November: election day, with voting from 8am to 6pm.

What has changed since 2022

The VEC lists three key differences for this election:

  • The roll closes earlier. It now closes at 8pm on the day the writ is issued, which the VEC says is one week earlier than at other elections.

  • Nominations are shorter. Independent candidates in particular need to be ready before nominations open on 4 November, and must nominate in person at an election office.

  • Early voting is shorter. This year it runs from 18 to 27 November.

The VEC has also announced some changes of its own. Every early voting centre will also be an election day voting centre. There will be a low-sensory mobile voting session in every district on Tuesday 17 November, from 10am to 4pm. And a printed EasyVote guide will be mailed to every household.

Check your enrolment now

If you have moved house, changed your name or turned 18 since you last enrolled, check your details well before 3 November. You can check and update your details through the VEC's enrolment page.

Moving house can also change your electorate. Victoria has 88 lower house districts, each electing one member, and eight upper house regions, each electing five. When you vote, you will receive ballot papers for the district and region you are enrolled in, so knowing your electorate tells you which candidates you can vote for.

If you will be away

You can still vote if you will be away from Victoria during the voting period. The VEC has options for voters who are interstate or overseas, and postal vote applications close at 6pm on 25 November. Leave time for a postal ballot to reach you and come back.

Want to work at the election?

The VEC is recruiting casual staff for roles before, during and after election day. Details and registration are on the same 2026 state election page.

Cover photo: chee.hong via Wikimedia Commons, licensed under CC BY 2.0. Cropped to fit.

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Rullik is the pen name of the founder of Australia Illuminate (Auslume). Rullik writes plain-language explainers on life in Australia, from immigration, study and work to money, sport and screen culture, always linking to the official sources behind each story. Every story is reviewed before publication.

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