Who can I vote for across Western Victoria at the 2026 Victorian election?
Our guide to November’s state election, who you can vote for and what they hope to achieve if they are elected into power.
Zara Cuthbertson & Darcie Humphreys
July 31, 2026
Voters will head to the polls on Saturday November 28, 2026 to elect the next Parliament of Victoria.
To keep you up to date we’ve created a go-to-guide, collating everything you need to know about candidates running for lower house seats across West Vic.
We’ll keep updating this page as new candidates announce their campaigns or provide new policy details.
If we’ve missed something, please let us know! Or, get in touch at [email protected] to tell us about the issues that will be swaying your vote this year, and what you want us to ask local candidates.
Table of Contents
How does voting work in Victoria?
On November 28, 2026 eligible voters can vote for one member of the Legislative Assembly (also known as the lower house) and five members of the Legislative Council (upper house).
Victoria has 88 electorates for the lower house with one Member of Parliament (MP) elected for each electorate.
There are 40 upper house seats. Victoria is divided into eight regions, with five MPs for each region.
To form a majority government, a party or coalition needs to win at least 45 seats out of the 88 total seats in the lower house.
A minority government can be formed with fewer than 45 seats if a party secures enough support from independent or minor party MPs on the crossbench to win votes on the floor of parliament.
What are “preferences” and how do they work?
Victoria uses the preferential voting system, meaning you choose candidates on a ballot paper in the order of your preference.
If your preferred candidate cannot get enough votes to win, your vote can count for your next preferred candidate.
Write a number 1 in the box for your most-preferred candidate
Number all remaining boxes in the order you prefer.
Importantly, Victoria requires voters to number every box for a vote to be valid - you can't just number your top few and stop. A ballot with skipped or repeated numbers is informal and doesn't count at all.
Do I have to vote?
Yes, you must enrol and vote in a state election if you:
are 18 years or older
are an Australian citizen
have lived in Victoria for longer than a month.
The fine for not voting in Victoria is $105.
When do I need to be enrolled to vote?
You must be enrolled to vote by November 3. If you’re not sure, you can check if you’re enrolled at the Victorian Electoral Commission.
Do I have to vote in person?
No, you don’t have to vote in person on election day.
You can apply to submit a postal vote through the Australian Electoral Commission, but you must do this before November 3. Ballot papers will be mailed to you and must be returned by November 25.
If you are blind, vision or motor impaired you can cast your vote via telephone from November 18.
Can I vote before election day?
Yes, early voting opens on November 18 and closes at 6pm on Friday November 27.
When do candidates have to announce they are running by?
Nominations for candidates open on November 4 and close on November 9.
When do we find out the result?
Most seats, especially safe ones, will be called on election night. Close seats will get their preference distributions finalised and become official one to two weeks later.
By December 19, three weeks post-election, every single result (including the closest recuts) is legally required to be declared by the Victorian Electoral Commission.
Who can I vote for?
Polwarth
Colac, in the Polwarth electorate.
The electorate of Polwarth stretches across the Surf Coast and Great Ocean Road to the farming districts around Colac, Camperdown, Terang and Mortlake. It includes the coastal communities of Anglesea, Aireys Inlet, Lorne, Wye River, Apollo Bay, Port Campbell and Peterborough, as well as inland centres including Winchelsea, Colac, Camperdown, Terang, Inverleigh, Cressy, Lismore and Mortlake.
Polwarth has been held continuously by Liberal or conservative predecessors since its creation in 1889. The electorate covers about 8,860 square kilometres and is home to around 46,000 enrolled voters.
Liberal MP Richard Riordan retained the seat in 2022 with a two-party preferred margin of 16.8 percent over Labor.
Richard Riordan - Liberal
Liberal MP for Polwarth Richard Riordan.
Richard Riordan has represented Polwarth since winning the 2015 by-election following Terry Mulder's retirement and has since been re-elected in 2018 and 2022.
As Shadow Minister for Agriculture, he has been one of the Coalition's most outspoken voices on drought, regional infrastructure and farming issues.
Riordan has consistently campaigned against what he says are poor planning processes for renewable energy developments, while also advocating for improved roads and public transport, telecommunications and regional health services.
Hutch Hussein - Labor
Labor candidate for Polwarth Hutch Hussein.
Hutch Hussein is Labor's candidate for Polwarth. First running as the Labor candidate in 2022, Hussein has worked extensively in multicultural affairs, community engagement and advocacy, including leadership roles with not-for-profit organisations, serving as the Victorian Labor Party state president between 2016 and 2019.
She has built a profile as a campaigner on inclusion, community services and regional investment. Hussein has said she wants to focus on improving healthcare access, cost-of-living support, housing and investment in regional communities across the electorate.
Jesse Holden - The Greens
Greens candidate for Polwarth Jesse Holden.
Jesse Holden is the Victorian Greens candidate for Polwarth. Holden has a background in climate science and environmental advocacy, with the Greens positioning the campaign around stronger environmental protections, action on climate change and improving public services in regional communities.
The party believes the growing population along the Surf Coast and Great Ocean Road provides an opportunity to increase its vote in an electorate traditionally dominated by the Liberals. This will be Holden's first campaign for the seat.
South West Coast
Warrnambool, in the South-West Coast electorate.
The electorate of South-West Coast stretches from the South Australian border to Port Fairy and Warrnambool, and north through Heywood, Macarthur and surrounding farming communities.
Home to about 47,500 enrolled voters, it has been a stronghold for the Liberal Party since its creation in 2002, following the abolition of the Portland and Warrnambool electorates.
Local issues heading into the 2026 election include healthcare, particularly the future of regional hospitals and GP access, drought support, roads, housing, renewable energy projects and securing jobs across agriculture, manufacturing and forestry.
Liberal MP Roma Britnell retained the seat in 2022 with a two-party preferred margin of 12.7 per cent, making it one of the Coalition's safer regional seats.
Roma Britnell - Liberal
Liberal MP for South-West Coast Roma Britnell.
Roma Britnell has represented South-West Coast since winning the 2015 by-election following former premier Denis Napthine's retirement.
A dairy farmer and former nurse, Britnell worked for almost 30 years in healthcare before entering politics.
As the Coalition's Shadow Minister for Mental Health, Ageing and Carers, Britnell has focused on regional healthcare, drought assistance, roads and supporting farmers. She has regularly advocated for upgrades to the Princes Highway, improved ambulance services and stronger investment in south-west communities.
Eureka
Mount Buninyong, in the Eureka electorate.
The electorate of Eureka was previously known as Buninyong, before a redistribution ahead of the 2022 state election. Eureka covers the eastern suburbs of Ballarat such as Eureka, Brown Hill, Ballarat East, Golden Point, Canadian, Mount Pleasant, Mount Clear, Mount Helen and Buninyong, Clarendon, Darley, Elaine, Gordon, Rokewood, Shelford and Warrenheip.
It also covers Meredith, Lethbridge, Teesdale, Inverleigh, Bacchus Marsh and Ballan in the Golden Plains Shire and Moorabool Shire.
Roads and infrastructure are a key issue in Eureka as it contains many growing precincts. 75,628 people live in this electorate. The current Labor Party MP Michaela Settle first won the seat in 2018 and was reelected in 2022. In April, she became the Minister for Agriculture and Regional Development.
Michaela Settle - Labor
Michaela Settle will recontest the seat in the 2026 election. Settle has worked in agriculture, small business and media and prior to entering politics, worked as the marketing manager for Ballarat Community Health. She has said these experiences have led to a strong belief in a sense of community and “strong local services.”
Emma Muir - Liberal Party
Emma Muir was announced as the Liberal candidate for Eureka in July. Muir resides on a farm in Myrniong with her family where they run a farming business. She’s highlighted roads, health services and safety as key concerns.
Sam McColl - The Greens
Sam McColl will be running as the candidate for the Greens in Eureka. He’s a renter and community volunteer that has spoken on issues like housing, health and climate justice.
Wendy Morrison - Animal Justice Party
Wendy Morrison previously ran as an Animal Justice party candidate in 2018 and 2022, and will recontest in the 2026 election. Morrison was born in Ballarat before travelling Australia as a tour guide in adulthood.
No official Instagram for this candidate.
Wendouree
Sebastopol, in the Wendouree electorate.
Wendouree encompasses many central Ballarat areas, as well as Wendouree, Alfredton, Delacombe, Redan, Ballarat North, Sebastopol and Black Hill.
Labor has held the seat since 1999, and is currently represented by Labor MP Juliana Addison. Addison was elected after her predecessor, Sharon Knight, announced her retirement. The seat contains 68,566 constituents in Wendouree. Housing, public transport and community facilities are key issues in the area.
Juliana Addison - Labor
Juliana Addison will re-contest the seat. She previously worked as a history teacher at Clarendon College in Ballarat, Board Director of Ballarat Health Services, and an organiser for the Australian Workers’ Union. Addison has voiced the need for better infrastructure and services in regional communities.
Ellen Burns - The Greens
Ellen Burns will be contesting Wendouree for the Greens. She runs Smart Living Ballarat, and works with the Hidden Orchard to repurposing unwanted fruit and foods for organisations like the Meredith Music Festival.
Melissa Collins - Animal Justice Party
Melissa Collins is the candidate for Wendouree for the Animal Justice Party. She has worked with her local Landcare group and spends a lot of her time restoring and protecting native habitats in the community and at her property.
She has prioritised urgent climate action, effective responses to domestic violence, homelessness, and affordable, animal-friendly housing.
Ripon
Ararat, in the Ripon electorate.
Ripon contains LGAs Ararat, Avoca, Beaufort, Clunes, Creswick, Linton, Maryborough, Skipton, Smythesdale, St Arnaud, Wedderburn, Bealiva, Borung, Bridgewater on Loddon, Buangor, Cardigan, Carisbrook, Charlton, Dunolly, Eddington, Great Western, Landsborough, Lexton, Lucas, Elmhurst, Inglewood, Inverymay, Mitchell Park, Marnoo, Maryborough, Miners Rest, Moonambel, Newbridge, Snake Valley, Stawell, Talbot and Stuart Mill and Tarnagulla.
Labor MP Martha Haylett has held the seat since 2022, winning it from Liberal MP Louise Staley. The area is a popular agricultural region and contains many wineries. The population is 67,865. Key issues in Ripon include housing affordability and renewable energy.
Martha Haylett - Labor
Haylett will recontest the seat in the 2026 election. Haylett is originally from Creswick and has voiced support for improving public schools, local roads, job security, and hospitals.
Megan Read - Liberal Party
Megan Read will be contesting the seat for the Liberal Party. She is also from Creswick and now lives on a farm with her family. Key areas she has spoken about include bushfire recovery and the renewable energy infrastructure rollout.
Jo Armstrong - Nationals
The Nationals have selected Jo Armstrong as their candidate for the seat of Ripon. Armstrong is a farmer and is a current councillor and mayor for Ararat Rural City Council. She has spoken about improving roads, housing and the cost of living.
Tim Drylie - The Greens
Tim Drylie will run for Ripon for the Greens. Drylie is currently a councillor for Hepburn Shire, and previously served as mayor. Key areas Drylie has spoken on include affordable housing, education, aged care services, climate impacts, improving local services and cost of living.
Lowan
Hamilton, in the Lowan electorate.
Lowan is one of the biggest electorates in the state. It contains the towns of Apsley, Balmoral, Branxholme, Casterton, Cavendish, Coleraine, Dartmoor, Dimboola, Douglas, Dunkeld, Edenhope, Goroke, Great Western, Halls Gap, Hamilton, Harrow, Horsham, Jeparit, Kaniva, Lake Bolac, Minyip, Mortlake, Murtoa, Natimuk, Nhill, Penshurst, Rainbow, Rupanyup, Stawell, Warracknabeal and Willaura.
It has been held by Nationals MP Emma Kealy since 2014.
It is a region driven by agriculture. Housing, health services and road conditions are key areas of concern in the electorate. 68,313 people live in Lowan.
Emma Kealy - Nationals
Kealy will recontest the seat of Lowan. Originally from Edenhope, Kealy has a long family history in farming.
Macedon
The Macedon Ranges in the Macedon electorate.
The electorate of Macedon covers Melbourne's north-west fringe and extends through the Macedon Ranges, taking in towns including Gisborne, Woodend, Kyneton, Romsey, Lancefield, Macedon, Riddells Creek and Mount Macedon, as well as parts of Sunbury and the Hepburn Shire.
Home to around 50,000 enrolled voters and once considered a marginal seat, it has become increasingly favourable for Labor over the past decade. Labor retained the electorate in 2022 with a two-party preferred margin of 10.2 per cent.
As the region continues to grow, major election issues include transport, health services, school capacity, housing affordability, bushfire preparedness and balancing development with protection of the Macedon Ranges' natural environment.
Mary-Anne Thomas - Labor
Labor MP for Macedon Mary-Anne Thomas.
Mary-Anne Thomas has represented Macedon since 2018 after defeating the sitting Liberal MP.
During her time in government she has served in several ministerial portfolios, including Health, Ambulance Services and Regional Development, before becoming Minister for Health. Thomas has focused on expanding healthcare, delivering new schools and supporting infrastructure.
She announced in April 2026 that she would retire at the state election after eight years in Parliament, meaning Labor will contest the seat with a new candidate.
Marley McRae McLeod - Greens
Greens candidate for Macedon Marley McRae McLeod.
Marley McRae McLeod is the Greens candidate for Macedon, first running for the seat in 2022.
McRae McLeod is campaigning on protecting the region's natural environment, tackling the cost of living, improving public transport and increasing access to affordable housing.
She has also highlighted the need to preserve the character of the Macedon Ranges while investing in better public services for residents.