Election Guide
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Al Wasat Elections Guide
Local council elections
2020 Victoria
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ABOUT ELECTIONS How often are State elections held?
Council elections are held every four years, on the fourth Saturday in October. • There are 79 councils in Victoria – 31 in Melbourne and 48 in rural and regional areas. • Each council must have between five and 12 councillors, who are elected by the community to represent them. • In 2020, 76 councils will be going to an election in October. • The South Gippsland Shire Council election has been postponed until October 2021, and the Casey City Council and Whittlesea City Council elections have been postponed until October 2024. • The Minister for Local Government, in consultation with the VEC, determines whether elections are conducted by either postal voting or attendance (in person) voting. All local government elections in 2020 will be postal voting. The 2020 Local Government Elections Service Plan sets out the VEC’s plan to deliver these elections.
Who votes in council elections? Two groups of people are eligible to vote in council elections: • State-enrolled voters in that council area (known as the Electoral Commissioner’s List). This group is automatically enrolled to vote in council elections. • those who are not State enrolled voters in that council area but pay rates to that council (known as the CEO’s List). This group must apply to council to be included on the roll. It includes: • non-resident property owners, such as those with holiday houses and investment properties • directors or company secretaries of corporations that pay rates in that council area but don’t live in the area • shop tenants who are named on the council’s records to receive the rates notice, or have the written consent of the owner to vote in their place • non-Australian citizens who live and pay rates in that council area. These two lists are combined to make the voters’ roll. The Melbourne City Council voters’ roll has additional categories for corporate representatives. See the Melbourne City Council website for more information: https://www.melbourne.vic.gov.au/about-council/ governance-transparency/elections/Pages/elections. aspx AL WASAT 114 ¿ Safar 1442 ¿ October 2020 هـ ¿ تشرين األول1442 ¿ صفر114 الوسط
Is it compulsory to vote?
Voting is compulsory for those on the Electoral Commissioner’s List. It is not compulsory for those on the CEO’s List – except in Melbourne City Council elections where everyone on the voters’ roll is required to vote. People who do not provide a sufficient excuse for not voting in a council election may be fined. The penalty is half a penalty unit, which is set at $82.61 for the 2020 local government elections.
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المجتمع المسلم وانتخابات المجالس المحلیة في ملبورن ال�شيخ عالء الزقم امام م�سجد ال�صديق ع�ضو مجل�س الأئمة الفيدرالي نعی�ش ف��ي �أج ��واء انتخابات المجال�س المحلیة في ملبورن وقد لفت نظرى خالل العملیة الإنتخابیة �أمرین مهمین: الأول :تواجد المر�شحین الم�سلمین على ق��وائ��م الإن �ت �خ��اب��ات م��ن مختلف الأح �ی��اء وهو �أم��ر جدیر بالذكر وما زاد هذا الأمر رونقا هو تواجد المر�شحین ال�شباب من الم�سلمین ال��ذی��ن ی��ری��دون �أن ی�خ��دم��وا المجتمع الأ� �س �ت��رال��ي وی �ك��ون��وا ج ��زءا من الحیاة ال�سیا�سیة .لقد �أجریت ح��وارا مع بع�ض ه�ؤالء ال�شباب المر�شحین للإنتخابات ووجدت نف�سي �أمام �شباب متح�ضر واع یرید �أن یكون جزءا من التغییر نحو الأف�ضل ،لهم
ر�ؤی��ة م�ستقبلیة و�أفكار جدیرة بالإحترام، یحر�صون على �أن یقدموا �أنف�سهم على �أنهم �شباب م�سلم �أ�سترالي یرید �أن یكون م��ن ه� ��ؤالء الم�س�ؤلین ع��ن ت�ق��دی��م الخیر والنفع للنا�س جمیعا ،ی�ؤمنون ب�أن طاقاتهم وقدراتهم یمكن �أن ت�ستغل ب�شكل �أف�ضل في جهة عمل مجتمعي مثل المجل�س المحلي. ح��ق لمجتمعنا ال�م���س�ل��م ب�شكل خا�ص والأ� �س �ت��رال��ي ب�شكل ع��ام �أن یفخر بمثل ه��ؤالء ال�شباب ویجب علینا �أن نقف معهم وندعمهم حتى یح�صلوا على فر�صتهم في تقدیم النفع والخیر لهذا المجتمع ولأن یكونوا جزءا من الحیاة ال�سیا�سیة و�صناعة القرار في �أ�سترالیا. ال�ث��ان��ي :م�شاركة المجتمع الم�سلم في الإن�ت�خ��اب��ات وق��د �أظ�ه��ر المجتمع الم�سلم تمثیال ح���ض��اری��ا ل�ل�م���ش��ارك��ة ف��ي ال�ح�ی��اة ال�سیا�سیة ب��ال��دخ��ول ف��ي بع�ض الحمالت الإع�لان �ی��ة للمر�شحین لدعمهم وك��ذل��ك ت�شجیع الغیر على الم�شاركة في الإنتخابات
وه��ذا لی�س بغریب على مجتمعنا الم�سلم ال� ��ذي ق��د ن���ض��ج و�أ� �ص �ب��ح واع �ی��ا لأه�م�ی��ة الم�شاركة في الحیاة ال�سیا�سیة والمجتمعیة في �أ�سترالیا. �إن التغییر للأف�ضل والمطالبة بالحقوق ال یكون �إال عن طریق الم�شاركة في الحیاة ال�سیا�سیة وقد بین ر�سولنا الكریم �صلى اﷲ علیه و�سلم ذلك بفعله وم�شاركته في الحیاة ال�سیا�سیة في مجتمع المدینة المنورة بعد �أن هاجر �إلیها فكان من �أول ما قام به في المدینة المنورة معاهدة فاقت الكثیر من المواثیق الحقوقیة والد�ساتیر الدولیة عرفت با�سم معاهدة المدینة وقد �أ�س�س فیها النبي �صلى ﷲ علیه و�سلم �أ�س�س ومبادئ العی�ش الم�شترك بین الم�سلمین وغیرهم .ونحن في بلدنا �أ�سترالیا یجب �أن نحر�ص دائما على ممار�سة ه��ذا الحق ال�سیا�سي ال��ذي �ضمنته لنا الدولة تمثیال للإ�سالم والتعریف به و�إظهار مبد�أ الإ�سالم في تقدیم العون والم�ساعدة للجمیع وكذلك �ضمانة للحقوق
والحفاظ على ا�ستقرار المجتمع الم�سلم في �أ�سترالیا. �إنني �أ�شعر بالفخر �أننى �أنتمي للمجتمع الم�سلم الأ� �س �ت��رال��ي ال ��ذي ی��ری��د ویظهر دائما �أن��ه یرید �أن یكون ج��زءا من الحیاة ال�سیا�سیة والإجتماعية في ه��ذا المجتمع و�أدع��و مجتمعنا الم�سلم لأن یجتهدوا في الم�شاركة في مجاالت عدة تظهر �شخ�صیة الم�سلم النافع لغیره كما حث ر�سولنا الكریم �صلى اﷲ علیه و�سلم في قوله في الحدیث ال�شریف «خیر النا�س �أنفعهم للنا�س» وكذلك قوله تعالى }وتعاونوا على البر والتقوى{. �أتمنى التوفیق لكل المر�شحین الم�سلمین في �أحیاء عدیدة على م�ستوى مدینة ملبورن ون�س�أل ﷲ �سبحانه وتعالى �أن یوفقهم جمیعا لخدمة المجتمع الأ�سترالى و�أن یجزیهم خیرا على جهودهم في هذه الإنتحابات.
?How do I vote To vote correctly in a local government election (apart from the Melbourne City Council councillor election) you must number every box on the ballot paper in the order of your choice.
Voting in postal elections involves the following steps: • the VEC sends each voter on the roll at the close of the roll a ballot pack containing candidate statements and photos, ballot paper, ballot paper envelope, and reply-paid envelope • the voter completes the ballot paper, puts it in the ballot paper envelope and signs the flap on the envelope. This signed declaration is removed before the ballot paper is extracted from the envelope, so the voter’s identity remains private • the voter puts the ballot paper envelope into a reply-paid return-addressed envelope and posts it to the election office. When the election office receives the envelope, it is opened, and the ballot paper envelope removed. The ballot paper envelope is scanned to mark the voter as having returned their vote. The scanned envelope is placed in a security box until voting has closed. All ballot paper envelopes must be in the post or hand-delivered to the election office by 6 pm on the Friday before election day. Local mail clearance times may be earlier than 6 pm and must be considered when votes are being returned by mail. Postal votes may be received by the Election Manager through the post until 12 noon on the fifth working day after election day.
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Voting in the upcoming Local Government elections is easy and essential Mohamed Jemai - Melbourne Despite the COVID19 lockdown Victorians are heading for the ballot box in local government elections, which close on October 23. Like most things during the COVID19 pandemic, the Victorian local council elections will be conducted remotely by post. By now most Victorians would have received their voting packs in the mail. Most people, by now, would have seen all the candidates’ placards and posters adorning walls, shop windows and front yards. Kitchen tables will be strewn with local candidate’s information. There are 76 out of 79 state city councils running elections this term. Casey, Whittlesea and South Gippsland Shire Councils are under administration. • Here are some things we need to consider before we send our vote back to the Victorian Election Commission (VEC). Council services are paid for, though taxes, rates and levies by you, the resident. So, your taxes are the most important reason to vote in the council election. • In principle, by partaking in elections, through our vote we delegate responsibility to those candidates who, if they win, will hopefully allocate our taxes to the services that we use. So, It is important to consider who you will vote for carefully. • Our deen, AL-ISLAM has made the noble duty of taking care of our environment and serroundingns a sign of IMAN:
ال اله اال: أفضلها قول،بضع وسبعون شعبة،اإلميان رواه مسلم.الله وادناها اماطة االذى عن الطريق
Prophet Muhammad (SAW) Said “Iman is over seventy categories. The best of which is the saying of La ELAHA ELA ALLAH, and the least
of which is to remove harm from people’s pathways. We have an opportunity to practice this great humanitarian principle and take care of our families, neighbourhood and environment. Local government supplies direct services we need like in health, early childhood education, kindergartens and childcare, parks, mothers and babies support, vaccinations, aged care, funding for cultural events and a lot more. So, through voting the right candidate in, we get to positively affect our surroundings. • Candidates who win impact on our life and our families directly. The Victorian Electoral Commission (VEC) write, “It is important to vote to ensure your voice is heard by those who make decisions about things that affect the way you live” (https://www.vec.vic.gov.au/ voting/2020-local-council-election) • It is important to read about the candidates and consider carefully who to vote for. There is more information online on each candidate for those that need to know more.
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• In the voting pack there are candidates’ statements, a ballot paper, an envelope for the ballot and a pre-paid return envelope. It
is important to read and understand the voting instructions. VEC also provides a multilingual flyer. • When voting it is important that all candidates are numbered in order of the voter’s preference. The most preferred candidate will begin with ‘1’ in the box next to their name, then other candidates with 2 then 3 then 4, and so on, until all candidates on the ballot paper have a number next to their names. Ensure not to repeat the same number. • When finished, place the ballot paper in the ballot paper envelope and seal it. Then sign and date the flap in the designated section. Finally, place the ballot paper envelope in the pre-paid envelope and throw it in an Australia Post mailbox, before the close of voting deadline of 6pm, October 23. • In the end, we are rewarded for all of our actions in accordance with our intentions. The future is for those who do not forfeit their rights.
Meet the candidate in your area
• I’m Khaled Ajaj, a dad, husband and business analyst for Services Australia. I’ve lived in Hoppers Crossing and Tarneit for 18 years with my wife Halima, a local teacher. • After moving to Hoppers Crossing in the early 00s I dedicated myself to helping to create a harmonious neighbourhood - for all of our kids. Since then, I’ve taken on leadership roles in over a dozen community groups and helped to build this community. • I’m a local you can trust to listen to you, bring diverse groups of people together, work hard and make decisions in all of our best interest. • I’m running for council because I’ve watched our community be let down by poor planning decisions for nearly two decades. There is no plan to deliver the amenities and services to match the growth - a vote for me is a vote to put an end to that. • I believe we need a new generation of leadership in Wyndham. • We need a council that will both deliver on the basics and help our community achieve its potential. • I want to see council make decisions in the interest of residents rather than those of big developers. • We deserve a council that makes planning decisions in the interests of locals so that we can do simple things like access the services we need and find a park when we want one. • If you live in Tarneit, Werribee or Hoppers Crossing I’m asking for your support because all of our kids deserve to live in communities they can be proud of. AL WASAT 114 ¿ Safar 1442 ¿ October 2020 هـ ¿ تشرين األول1442 ¿ صفر114 الوسط
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The roles of Muslims in the council elections Nawaz Khan, Year 11
Islamic College of Melbourne (ICOM) The year 2020 has hit us with great adversities. The Covid-19 pandemic has caused pain and suffering to many people, and in times like these Muslims rely on our faith as a guiding light to get us through hard times. Faith unites the community no matter the persons’ background, skin colour, gender or age. The value of faith may be overlooked in these difficult times, however, it is our duty to spread the significance of faith, when one may have lost it. One way we can do this is through the council election coming up on 24 October. We must pay attention to these local elections and vote for who we believe will represent us and our values best. The Muslim community, for a significant amount of time, has lacked the proper representation needed to promote our values and give us the voice that is so needed. The importance of having a voice in public office does not only stretch to the local level but also state and federal. Our goal is to be part of this nation. Adequate representation in government would give us the needed voice for us to do so.
All big things start with small steps. This is the importance of our council elections. Our local council would set the direction of the municipality through plans and policies. The policies and plans set in place by our council impact us, our families, friends and our communities as a whole. We Muslims must elect officials that not only give us a voice but also enact policies that help us and our communities; whether it be funding for a new mosque or
support for community organisers. The importance of having a say in the policies that affect us is unparalleled. A study into Muslim community organisations from 2017 show that even though we participate in our own community activities like religious services such as teaching and counselling for individuals, political advocacy and lobbying is far less prevalent. This shows a reluctance from the Muslim
community to run for public office. This reluctance is the hurdle that stops us from achieving the goal of representation. Our community needs to encourage our people to become more active in the political space, especially the younger generations. They are full of optimism, energy and drive. They have the creative spark and perhaps what they need more than ever is that little push.
Though Victoria’s council candidates do not have the benefit of going door to door, the elections will regardless be hard fought Eshal Ahmed, Year 10
Islamic College of Melbourne (ICOM) A little more than 2,150 Victorians have nominated for local council elections this very month. The Victorian council elections are held every four years and offer individuals a chance to make a positive impact in communities by representing the local council board. A councillor’s essential job is to represent their area and the individuals who live in it. Councillors have a responsibility to offer a diverse range of services that address the concerns of their community such as child care, disability services, building permits, leisure centres, roads, religious buildings, and etc. We need Muslims to step up and nominate each other for these local elections to increase our representation in positions of power and make sure our voices are being heard. It is our responsibility as Muslims to become more active in community issues by electing representatives that we think will make more positive change. There are different factors that we ought to be contemplate when casting our ballot. The two fundamental questions are: 1. How does the candidate operate model of social care change so that people experience better life
outcomes? 2. Does the representative support the Human Rights Acts? If not, which rights does he/she propose we no longer need? On Melbourne’s north western fringe, I interviewed one of the local Muslim candidates, and was able to get a better insight into what it’s like to undergo being an elected candidate of the people. The candidates are required to sit an online course to develop an understanding of how to comply with the directions of the Victorian Chief Health Officer and stay safe while campaigning during covid. This includes advice on permitted campaign activities, safety for campaign teams, basic
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hygiene and physical distancing. There are a few factors that have guided Muslim participation in the electoral process. Those who lived in Australia for a long time or came from a country with a strong democratic culture are more likely to participate in these elections than newcomers or those who escaped an oppressive state. Women with a background that emphasized the traditional gender role similarly found it more difficult to participate than Australian-born converts and women whose cultural traditions encouraged women to participate. Growing up in an environment where politics is regularly discussed I have very strong opinions when it
comes to the politics in Australia. Muslims should especially take part in these local elections as they give the minority Muslim community to channel through which their concerns and ideas can be raised in the forums best placed to bring about change. It also provides formal and semi-formal means of building bridges with other groups who share similar concerns and ideas. It aids the wider community to become aware of, grow and understand, the Muslims community’s concerns and ideas. I believe that the council elections is a stepping stone for Australian Muslims to participate in Australian politics at the state and the federal levels.
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Meet the candidate in your area
• Yasemin Yigit, 29, Is following her father’s footsteps into the world of politics. She is a candidate in Aitken ward for the Hume City council elections of 2020. Yasemin Yigit is of Turkish Muslim background, young and female who was born and raised in the Hume area, she went to school Gladstone park secondary college and works in the Hume as well. • Yasemin has many goals she wants to achieve. One of her goals is to have the younger generation become more active in civic life as she believes they are the future. She will be seeking to attract more businesses to area by making it easier for them to set up here. This will create more employment opportunities for residents in Hume. Less travel time to get to work will help out of pocket work expenses and is good for the environment. She wants to see more trees planted in the Hume’s public spaces and having cleaner and better maintained family friendly parks and recreation areas. • Better variety of sporting facilities to accommodate different types of sport for our youth is a priority for Yasemin. Hume needs more local facilities so that young people have more opportunities for sports. AL WASAT 114 ¿ Safar 1442 ¿ October 2020 هـ ¿ تشرين األول1442 ¿ صفر114 الوسط
• There is also a greater need, as our community ages for opportunities for the elderly in our community to have take part in suitable activities. She feels that more should be done for the elderly. • Graffiti is also an issue that needs to be addressed. • Yasemin’s job gives her the opportunity of meeting people living in this area and listening to their concerns in the current COVID environment as well as other concerns people have about the area. • As a victim of bullying in high school, Yasemin will focus very sensitively on her school bullying project. Yasemin believes that Students are affected by bullying leading to lowered selfesteem and cause self-harm in some teenagers, the trauma they live during school years can stay with them and affect their future into adulthood. • She wants council to work with schools so they become a safe place where students enjoy learning rather than being worried about getting bullied. • Yasemin follows mental health awareness and
likes to keep herself informed about mental health support programs. Mental health awareness as one of Yasmin’s priorities in her role, this also involves her wanting to help those who have had mental issues as a result of this global pandemic. • Yasemin is also an essential service worker in the Hume area, she is very grateful to be employed during this global pandemic. Seeing the impact of this pandemic on family and friends has allowed Yasemin to become acutely aware of the impact that families have endured during this period. Yasemin is keen for council to continue and increase Council support for families and business who have suffered during this time. • The election is carried out by post. The ballot papers will be posted in the first week of October and will need to be returned by post to reach the Victorian Electoral commission before 24 October. • Yasemin Yigit, can be contacted through her Facebook page @infoYaseminYigit, her email and mobile number is also on her Facebook page.
Meet the candidate in your area
The visions that I hope to become reality are 1. To ensure security and safety on our streets by installing more security cameras. 2. create island parking for narrow streets so that it is easier for both parties (residents and drivers) to get through the street. 3. to create more designated customer parking spots for small shopping centers and businesses so that there is less congestion on main roads. 4. prioritise bike tracks on our local roads to increase the safety of both bike riders and drivers. 5. to fund more clubs, like sports clubs, so that they all have up to date facilities and resources ( e.g. sports equipment and changing rooms). 6. prioritise, and support more elderly services to relieve families of stress.
7. to provide public toilets and barbecue facilities in our small local parks. 8. I want to enforce a work plan for those who have lost their job and for those who find it difficult to find one. 9. I want to apply to the state government to allow for a built on a slight wall on the freeway path in glenroy. 8. Last but not least, aim to fight for the lowest rate on waste services to help residents with their financial situations. These are only a few ideas of the many I have for Moreland, however this is the direction I am aiming for! If you like my ideas for the future Moreland, than support me by voting me as 1 on your list.
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What councillors do? Your councillors make decisions about • parks and sporting grounds • community services • libraries
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• • • • •
roads and footpaths rubbish and recycling public buildings and halls dog and cat registration building and construction.
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إنتخابات مجالس البلديات المحلية في تشرين األول/أكتوبر 2020 تجري �إنتخابات مجال�س البلديات المحلية هذا ال�شهر (ت�شرين الأول�/أكتوبر .)2020 حيث تتلقى رزمة تحتوي على ورقة اقتراع للإدالء ب�صوتك من المنزل. • لن تجري االنتخابات لمجال�س بلديات ,Casey City CouncilوSouth Gippsland Shire Councilو .Whittlesea City Councilال يحتاج الناخبون في هذه المجال�س البلدية الثالثة �إلى الت�صويت. • اكمل ورقة االقتراع و�أعدها في �أقرب وقت ممكن قبل �إنتهاء الت�صويت ،عند ال�ساعة 6 م�سا ًء من يوم الجمعة 23ت�شرين الأول�/أكتوبر.
كيف يمكنني اإلدالء بصوتي في انتخابات المجلس البلدي المحلي؟ تم �إر�سال رزمة االقتراع لك عبر البريد بين 6و 8ت�شرين الأول�/أكتوبر .2020 ّ تجد في رزمة االقتراع ما يلي: و�ص َو ٍر للمر�شّ حين لالنتخابات. بت�صريحات • ورقة اقتراع ُمرفقة ُ • تعليمات حول الت�صويت (مع تعليمات ُمترجمة). • ظرف ورقة االقتراع مع ط ّية. • ظرف ُمع ّد للر ّد مدفوعة تكاليفه.
كيفية التصويت • ��ض��ع ال��رق��م 1ف��ي ال�م��رب��ع ال �م �ج��اور لل�شخ�ص ال��ذي ت� ��رغ� ��ب ب� � � ��أن ي��ن��ج��ح ف��ي االنتخابات. • �ضع الرقم 2في المربع المجاور لخيارك الثاني. • �إ�ستمر ف��ي و��ض��ع الأرق���ام حتى يكون هنالك �أرقام في جميع المربعات. • �إ�ستخدم الأرقام فقط.
ماذا يحدث بعد إكتمال اإلدالء بصوتي؟ � -1ضع ورق ��ة�/أوراق االقتراع ال ُمكتملة الخا�صة بك في ظرف ورقة االقتراع (الذي عليه ط ّية) واغلق الظرف ب�إحكام. � -2أكمل تفا�صيلك على الط ّية ال ُملت�صقة بظرف ورقة االقتراع. � -3ضع ظرف ورقة االقتراع بعد �إغالقه ب�إحكام في الظرف ال ُمع ّد للر ّد المدفوعة تكاليفه قبل �إر�ساله عبر البريد. ت�أكد من �إر�سال ورقة االقتراع في �أقرب وقت ممكن قبل �إغالق الت�صويت ،عند ال�ساعة 6 م�سا ًء من يوم الجمعة 23ت�شرين الأول�/أكتوبر. Source: www.vec.vic.gov.au الوسط ¿ 114صفر 1442هـ ¿ تشرين األول AL WASAT 114 ¿ Safar 1442 ¿ October 2020
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Meet the candidate in your area
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AL WASAT 114 ¿ Safar 1442 ¿ October 2020 هـ ¿ تشرين األول1442 ¿ صفر114 الوسط