Line of late Geelong council voters at Moorabool St VEC office wrap around block

Late voters faced wait times of over an hour as the line for the VEC office on Moorabool St wrapped around the block.

Lines at the Moorabool St VEC office on Friday evening.

There was chaos on Friday evening as the wait to cast a last minute vote in this year’s Geelong council election ballooned to over an hour.

The line to vote at the Victorian Electoral Commission’s (VEC) office on Moorabool St across the road from Kardinia Park was wrapping around the block just before 6pm.

It’s understood the wait time was over an hour.

According to Dr Daniel Garcia, a Kardinia Ward candidate who was at the office on Friday evening, voters weren’t happy with the situation.

“People down here are super frustrated and upset,” Dr Garcia said.

Voters were “frustrated.”

Voters across the state had until 6pm on Friday evening to get their ballot packs back in the mail, with those who didn’t receive their packs required to head to the Moorabool St location.

A spokeswoman from the VEC said people still in the queue at 6pm would be issued with a replacement ballot pack and be able to vote in this year’s election.

“Our election managers and their teams across the state are working hard today to process last minute over the counter requests for replacement ballot packs,” she said.

“As local council elections are held entirely by post, over the counter services take longer than voting at federal and state elections.

“This means some election offices are experiencing queues as we move towards the close of voting at 6pm.

Lines at the Moorabool St VEC office on Friday evening.

“We ask that voters please treat election staff with respect.”

As of close of business on Thursday, only about 60 per cent of residents in the City of Greater Geelong had cast their vote.

Those figures were better than in Surf Coast Shire (55 per cent) and Golden Plains Shire (53 per cent.)

The Borough of Queenscliffe was ahead of all three, with 66 per cent returning their ballots.

The fine for failing to vote in these elections is $99, with apparent failure to vote notices to be sent out in early 2025.

People who weren’t able to vote will be able to send back a reason for their failure to vote.

According to the VEC, it’s anticipated that the results for the race for a seat at Geelong City Hall will be announced late on November 11, with this date subject to change.

All results will be finalised and declared no later than Friday 15 November.

Originally published as Line of late Geelong council voters at Moorabool St VEC office wrap around block