One Vote Should Mean One Vote

Melbourne is Victoria’s capital city. Its council elections should be fair, transparent and democratic.

But right now, City of Melbourne elections are run under special rules that give some interests more voting power than ordinary residents.

Businesses and non-resident property interests can have voting power that ordinary residents do not. Residents can be outnumbered on the electoral roll. Voters can be pushed into preference deals they did not choose. Campaign donations may not be revealed until after people have already voted.

That is not good enough for the heart of Victoria.

This is not about left or right. It is about a basic democratic principle: one vote should mean one vote.

The City of Melbourne itself has called for a review of the electoral system. Now the community is backing that call.

We call on the Victorian Government and all parties contesting the next state election to commit to an independent public review of the City of Melbourne Act and electoral system, with genuine community consultation and reforms in place before the next council election.

The review should consider reforms that:
·         make voting power fair;

·         ensure voters control their own preferences;

·         require campaign donations to be disclosed before people vote;

·         protect council decisions from conflicts of interest;

·         and respect Melbourne’s role as a capital city while upholding democratic equality.

Melbourne should lead on democracy, not lag behind.

One vote should mean one vote. Sign to fix Melbourne’s election rules