Baird Ward by-election 2027

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The Victorian Electoral Commission (VEC) has confirmed that a by-election for Knox City Council's Baird Ward will be held on Saturday 6 February 2027.

The by-election follows the resignation of former Councillor Peter Lockwood and will elect a new councillor to represent Baird Ward for the remainder of the current Council term.

The VEC is responsible for conducting the by-election.

Key election dates

We will add more information about voting arrangements and other key dates as they become available.

Event	Date
Close of electoral rolls	4 pm, Wednesday 25 November 2026
Candidate nominations open	Monday 14 December 2026
Candidate nominations close	12 pm, Tuesday 22 December 2026
Close of postal voting	6 pm, Friday 5 February 2027
By-election day	Saturday 6 February 2027

What you need to do

Check your ward

Knox is divided into 9 wards, each represented by one councillor.

You can check if you are in Baird Ward online using the VEC's electoral boundary information.

Check you are enrolled to vote

Baird Ward residents should make sure their enrolment details are up to date ahead of the by-election.

This is particularly important if you have:

moved
changed your name
turned 18 years old.

Enrolment closes at 4 pm on Wednesday 25 November 2026.

There are 2 types of enrolment for Council elections:

state-enrolled voters
council-enrolled voters.

Expand all

You are automatically enrolled for this by-election if:

you will be 18 years of age or over on Saturday 6 February 2027
you live in Baird Ward
you are on the state electoral roll for your current address.

You can check or update your details through the VEC website.

Who can apply

To be a council-enrolled voter, you must be:

a property owner, occupier or represent a corporation
18 years of age or over on Saturday 6 February 2027
not a state-enrolled voter within the City of Knox.

You may apply to enrol if:

you have purchased a rateable property in Baird Ward since the 2024 local government general election, but you are not a resident of the City of Knox
you are not an Australian citizen and you live in, and pay rates for, a property in Baird Ward
you pay rates on a property you occupy in Baird Ward and have no other voting entitlement within the City of Knox, for example you are a shop tenant and pay rates to Knox City Council for your tenancy, and you have no other voting entitlement within the City of Knox
you are a director or company secretary of a corporation in Baird Ward that pays rates to Knox City Council and you have no other voting entitlement within City of Knox.

How to enrol

If you meet any of these criteria and want to enrol, contact Council on 9298 8000 for a council enrolment form.

Council must receive enrolment forms by the close of roll at 4 pm on Wednesday 25 November 2026.

You are automatically enrolled for this by-election if you were enrolled as either an owner ratepayer, occupier ratepayer, or director or company secretary of a corporation for Baird Ward at the 2024 local government general election.

If your circumstances have changed since the 2024 local government general election and you are no longer either an owner ratepayer, occupier ratepayer, or director or company secretary of a corporation of that property, you will not be automatically enrolled for this by-election.

How to vote

The Baird Ward by-election will be conducted by postal vote.

Enrolled voters will receive a ballot pack by mail containing instructions on how to complete and return their vote.

Voting is compulsory for all enrolled voters.

The VEC will provide further information about the distribution of ballot packs, voting deadlines and replacement ballot packs closer to the election.

Voting closes at 6 pm on Friday 5 February 2027.

To ensure your vote is counted, your completed ballot pack must be in the mail or delivered to the VEC election office by this deadline.

For more information, visit the VEC website.

Interested in becoming a Councillor?

The by-election provides an opportunity for community members interested in representing Baird Ward to consider standing for Council.

Prospective candidates are encouraged to learn more about the role and responsibilities of a Councillor, eligibility requirements and the nomination process.

Candidates must complete mandatory Local Government Candidate Training before nominating.

Find out how to become a Council candidate.

To nominate as a candidate for Baird Ward, you must meet the eligibility requirements under the Local Government Act 2020.

Generally, candidates must:

be an Australian citizen aged 18 or older
be enrolled on the voters' roll for Knox City Council
be eligible to become a councillor should you be elected
complete mandatory Local Government Candidate Training before nominating.

Mandatory candidate training

The Victorian Government provides online training to help prospective candidates understand the responsibilities and expectations of becoming a councillor.

The training takes approximately one hour to complete and must be completed before lodging a nomination.

Learn more about completing mandatory Candidate Training.

Candidate information session

The VEC will conduct an online information session in December 2026 for prospective Baird Ward candidates. The training will cover practical information about nominating and the election process.

Session details will be published once confirmed.

Nominating for election

The VEC manages the nomination process, including nomination forms, eligibility requirements and the applicable nomination fee.

Learn more about becoming a local council candidate.