# 2020 Victorian local elections

The 2020 Victorian local elections were held on 24 October 2020 to elect the councils of 76 of the 79 local government areas in Victoria, Australia.
Three councils did not hold elections − South Gippsland (dismissed in June 2019), Casey (dismissed in February 2020) and Whittlesea (dismissed in March 2020). An election for South Gippsland was held in October 2021, while Casey and Whittlesea did not have their elections until 2024.

## Background

The elections were held amid the COVID-19 Pandemic in Australia, with Melbourne still in lockdown at the time of the elections. A survey conducted in April 2020 showed that a significant majority of councils wanted the elections postponed for a year. However, Minister for Local Government Shaun Leane announced on 19 August that the elections would go ahead as scheduled.
Eight councils changed their electoral structure ahead of the election, moving to single-member wards as a result of the Local Government Act 2020:
* Bayside City Council
* Cardinia Shire Council
* Darebin City Council
* Greater Dandenong City Council
* Kingston City Council
* Manningham City Council
* Maroondah City Council
* Whitehorse City Council
Additionally, Swan Hill and Mansfield moved to an unsubdivided structure.

## Political parties

The Liberal Party does not endorse candidates for local elections in Victoria. Labor chose to endorse some candidates, and some local party branches also made their own endorsements. Australian Progressives co-founder Peter Wingate contested Yarraville Ward in Maribyrnong as the party's first ever local elections candidate.
Labor endorsed a total of 38 candidates in the following LGAs:
* Ballarat (6 candidates)
* Hobsons Bay (3 candidate)
* Maribyrnong (7 candidates)
* Melbourne (5 candidates)
* Moonee Valley (6 candidates)
* Moreland (5 candidates)
* Wodonga (1 candidate)
* Yarra (5 candidates)
Additionally, the Labor Members for Darebin group endorsed 10 candidates (later disendorsing one). The ALP distanced themselves from the group, saying they did not endorse any candidates in Darebin.
Six other VEC-registered parties endorsed candidates:
* The Greens (88 candidates)
* Victorian Socialists (19 candidates)
* Animal Justice Party (16 candidates)
* Liberal Democrats (10 candidates)
* Reason Party (7 candidates)
* Sustainable Australia Party (6 candidates)
The "Put Climate First" alliance endorsed candidates in Darebin, Greater Geelong and Surf Coast.

## Candidates

A total of 2,186 candidates contested the elections.

## Party changes before elections

A number of councillors joined or left parties before the 2020 elections.
| Council | Ward | Councillor | Former party | New party | Date |
| Greater Dandenong | Silverleaf | Maria Sampey | Independent Labor | Labor | 2017 |
| Yarra | Langridge | Stephen Jolly | The Socialists | Independent Socialist | November 2017 |
| Monash | Glen Waverley | Lynette Saloumi | Independent | Sustainable Australia | 2018 |
| Maribyrnong | Stony Creek | Catherine Cumming | Independent | Justice | 2 February 2018 |
| Yarra | Langridge | Stephen Jolly | Independent Socialist | Victorian Socialists | 5 February 2018 |
| Moreland | North-West | Oscar Yildiz | Labor | Independent | 7 June 2018 |
| Glenelg | Unsubdivided | Anita Rank | Independent Liberal | Independent National | 8 June 2018 |
| Darebin | Rucker | Kim Le Cerf | Greens | Independent | 28 December 2018 |
| Moyne | Unsubdivided | Jim Doukas | Country | Independent | Late 2018 |
| Casey | Four Oaks | Rosalie Crestani | Rise Up Australia | Independent | 26 June 2019 |
| Yarra | Langridge | Stephen Jolly | Victorian Socialists | Independent Socialist | 23 September 2019 |
| Whittlesea | North | Emilia Sterjova | Labor | Independent | 9 February 2020 |
| Casey | Springfield | Sam Aziz | Liberal | Independent | 16 February 2020 |

## Results

| Party | Party | Party | Votes | % | Swing | Seats | Change |
| | Independents | Independents | | | | 445 | |
| | Labor | Labor | 80,639 | 2.44 | | 13 | |
| | Liberal | Liberal | | | | 50 | |
| | Greens | Greens | | | | 36 | 10 |
| | Independent National | Independent National | | | | 7 | |
| | Animal Justice | Animal Justice | | | | 2 | 2 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Liberal Democrats | | | | 2 | 1 |
| | Team Sally Capp | Team Sally Capp | 24,395 | 0.74 | | 2 | 2 |
| | Victorian Socialists | Victorian Socialists | 20,210 | 0.61 | +0.61 | 1 | 1 |
| | Team Arron Wood | Team Arron Wood | 12,187 | 0.37 | | 1 | 1 |
| | Banyule Ratepayers Action Group | Banyule Ratepayers Action Group | 11,230 | 0.34 | | 0 | |
| | Ratepayers of Port Phillip | Ratepayers of Port Phillip | 8,761 | 0.27 | +0.27 | 2 | 2 |
| | Independent Socialist | Independent Socialist | 7,380 | 0.22 | | 2 | 2 |
| | Bring Back Melbourne | Bring Back Melbourne | 6,683 | 0.20 | | 1 | 1 |
| | Back To Business | Back To Business | 6,572 | 0.20 | | 1 | 1 |
| | Sue Bolton Moreland Team | Sue Bolton Moreland Team | 5,062 | 0.15 | | 1 | |
| | Socialist Alliance | Socialist Alliance | 4,262 | 0.13 | | 0 | |
| | Save The Planet | Save The Planet | 2,934 | 0.09 | | 0 | |
| | Sustainable Australia | Sustainable Australia | 2,436 | 0.08 | | 0 | |
| | Richmond First | Richmond First | 1,897 | 0.06 | | 0 | |
| | Morgan-Watts Team | Morgan-Watts Team | 1,541 | 0.05 | | 0 | 1 |
| | Australia First | Australia First | 1,391 | 0.04 | | 0 | |
| | Residents First | Residents First | 1,110 | 0.03 | | 0 | |
| | Innovate Melbourne | Innovate Melbourne | 817 | 0.02 | | 0 | |
| | Team Hakim | Team Hakim | 379 | 0.01 | | 1 | 1 |
| | Melbourne - We All Matter | Melbourne - We All Matter | 374 | 0.01 | | 0 | |
| | Independent Local Voice | Independent Local Voice | 351 | 0.01 | | 0 | |
| | Your Melbourne Team Get It Done | Your Melbourne Team Get It Done | 291 | 0.01 | | 0 | |
| | It Will Be Okay Melbourne | It Will Be Okay Melbourne | 203 | 0.01 | | 0 | |
| | United People's Party | United People's Party | 79 | 0.00 | | 0 | |
| | Put Climate First | Put Climate First | | | | 1 | 1 |
| | Independent Labor | Independent Labor | | | | 1 | |
| | Reason | Reason | | | | 0 | |
| Formal votes | Formal votes | Formal votes | 3,298,665 | | | | |
| Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | | | | | |
| Total | Total | Total | | | | | |
| Registered voters / turnout | Registered voters / turnout | Registered voters / turnout | | | | | |

### Council control

| Party | Party | Councils | Councils |
| Party | Party | Number | Change |
| | Independent | 66 | |
| | No overall control | 7 | |
| | Burwood Liberals | 1 | |
| | Dandenong Labor | 1 | |
| | Greens | 1 | 1 |

## Aftermath

Yarra City Council was described Australia's "most left-wing local government" with The Greens receiving a majority and two independent socialists, including Stephen Jolly, elected. However, Gabrielle de Vietri resigned after winning the seat of Richmond and was replaced via countback by independent Michael Glynatsis, ending the Greens majority.
In November 2021, Moreland councillor Oscar Yildiz was part of the formation of the Victorians Party, a centrist political party which planned to contest the 2022 state election. Along with Yildiz, fellow Moreland councillor Helen Pavlidis-Mihalakos and Melbourne councillor Philip Le Liu joined the party, giving it 3 local government seats. The party disbanded in August 2022, citing financial difficulties.
The United Australia Party gained Victorian local representation in Victoria in May 2022, when Swan Hill councillor Stuart King joined the party to contest Mallee at the federal election.
The City of Moreland was renamed to Merri-bek in September 2022.
Two minor parties, the Angry Victorians Party and Restore Democracy Sack Dan Andrews, gained councillors in 2023 via different countbacks.

### Electoral fraud allegations

In February 2022, Labor councillor Milad El-Halabi resigned after being charged with conspiracy to cheat and defraud for allegedly tampering with the council elections in Moreland. He was replaced via countback in March 2022 by Socialist Alliance's Monica Harte.
On 31 March 2023, the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal found that El-Halabi was unduly elected. He has denied all allegations.

### Greens resignations

The Greens had five of its councillors resign from the party since the 2020 elections, and a further four seats have been lost due to resignations and deaths.
James Conlan (Merri-bek) left the party in solidarity with senator Lidia Thorpe, Amanda Stone (Yarra) resigned in February 2023, and Anab Mohamud (Yarra) resigned in February 2024.
In April 2024, both Greens councillors in Monash − Anjalee de Silva and Josh Fergeus − left the party.

## By-elections and countbacks

The Victorian Electoral Commission has held a number of by-elections and countbacks to fill vacancies on councils since the 2020 elections.

### By-elections

| Council | Ward | Before | Before | Before | Change | Change | After | After | After | After | After |
| Council | Ward | Councillor | Party | Party | Cause | Date | Date | Councillor | Party | Party | More |
| Northern Grampians | South West | N/A | | N/A | No nominations at 2020 election | 14 October 2020 | 4 December 2020 | Trevor Gready | | Independent | Full results |
| Hindmarsh | East | N/A | | N/A | Only 1 nomination for 2 vacancies at 2020 election | 21 October 2020 | 14 December 2020 | Wendy Bywaters | | Independent | Full results |
| Northern Grampians | Kara Kara | Karen Hyslop | | Independent | Resignation | 14 October 2020 | 1 March 2021 | Eddy Ostarcevic | | Independent | Full results |
| Cardinia | Westernport | Ray Brown | | Independent | Death | 19 March 2021 | 23 July 2021 | Kaye Cameron | | Independent | Full results |
| Yarra Ranges | Streeton | Cathrine Burnett-Wake | | Liberal | Elected to Victorian Parliament | 29 November 2021 | 18 February 2022 | Andrew Fullaga | | Independent | Full results |
| Maroondah | Wonga | Nora Lamont | | Liberal | Resignation | 7 December 2021 | 11 March 2022 | Linda Hancock | | Independent | Full results |
| Buloke | Mallee | Robert Priestly | | Independent | Resignation | 1 July 2022 | 28 October 2022 | Bernadette Hogan | | Ind. National | Full results |
| Northern Grampians | Kara Kara | Tony Driscoll | | Independent | Death | 1 August 2022 | 14 November 2022 | Karen Hyslop | | Independent | Full results |
| Mornington Peninsula | Watson | Paul Mercurio | | Independent Labor | Elected to Victorian Parliament | 21 December 2022 | 6 February 2023 | Kate Roper | | Independent | Full results |
| Maroondah | Barngeong | Marijke Graham | | Independent | Resignation | 8 September 2023 | 11 December 2023 | Chris Jones | | Independent | Full results |
| Greater Dandenong | Yarraman | Eden Foster | | Dandenong Labor | Elected to Victorian Parliament | 18 November 2023 | 9 March 2024 | TBA | | TBA | Full results |

### Countbacks

| Council | Ward | Before | Before | Before | Change | Change | After | After | After | After |
| Council | Ward | Councillor | Party | Party | Cause | Date | Date | Councillor | Party | Party |
| Moira | Unsubdivided | Andrew Goldman | | Independent | Death | 3 December 2020 | 11 January 2021 | Ed Cox | | Independent |
| Mornington Peninsula | Nepean | Hugh Fraser | | Independent | Resignation | 9 March 2021 | 15 April 2021 | Susan Bissinger | | Independent |
| Wellington | Northern | Malcolm Hole | | Independent | Death | 10 April 2021 | 18 May 2021 | Carmel Ripper | | Independent |
| Baw Baw | West | Ben Lucas | | Independent Liberal | Resignation | 18 June 2021 | 29 June 2021 | Keith Cook | | Independent |
| Strathbogie | Lake Nagambie | Melanie Likos | | Independent | Resignation | 16 August 2021 | 16 September 2021 | David Andrews | | Independent |
| Moira | Unsubdivided | Kevin Bourke | | Independent | Resignation | 24 November 2021 | 15 December 2021 | Judy Heather | | Independent |
| Moira | Unsubdivided | Marie Martin | | Independent | Resignation | 7 December 2021 | 21 January 2022 | John Beitzel | | Independent |
| Alpine | Unsubdivided | Charlie Vincent | | Animal Justice | Resignation | 23 December 2021 | 20 January 2022 | Simon Kelley | | Independent |
| Mitchell | South | Christine Banks | | Independent | Resignation | 9 February 2022 | 11 March 2022 | David Lowe | | Independent |
| Moreland | North-West | Milad El-Halabi | | Independent Labor | Resignation | 10 February 2022 | 23 March 2022 | Monica Harte | | Socialist Alliance |
| Indigo | Unsubdivided | Jenny O'Connor | | Independent | Resignation | 21 February 2022 | 11 March 2022 | Emmerick Teissl | | Independent |
| Queenscliffe | Unsubdivided | Susan Salter | | Independent Labor | Death | 16 March 2022 | 13 April 2022 | Isabelle Tolhurst | | Independent |
| Mildura | Unsubdivided | Cyndi Power | | Independent | Resignation | 25 March 2022 | 21 April 2022 | Troy Bailey | | Independent |
| Wodonga | Unsubdivided | Kat Bennett | | Independent | Resignation | 4 April 2022 | 27 April 2022 | Danny Lowe | | Independent |
| Glen Eira | Rosstown | Neil Pilling | | Independent | Resignation | 11 April 2022 | 28 April 2022 | Sue Pennicuik | | Greens |
| Greater Shepparton | Unsubdivided | Robert Priestly | | Independent | Resignation | 15 June 2022 | 7 July 2022 | Dinny Adem | | Independent |
| Horsham | Unsubdivided | Di Bell | | Independent | Resignation | 12 August 2022 | 7 September 2022 | Robert Redden | | Liberal |
| Wodonga | Unsubdivided | John Watson | | Independent | Resignation following cancer diagnosis | 8 November 2022 | 6 December 2022 | Danny Chamberlain | | Independent Liberal |
| Moira | Unsubdivided | John Beitzel | | Independent | Resignation | 17 November 2022 | 6 December 2022 | Scott Olson | | Independent |
| Moira | Unsubdivided | Libro Mustica | | Independent | Resignation | 17 November 2022 | 12 December 2022 | Wendy Buck | | Independent |
| Yarra | Langridge | Gabrielle de Vietri | | Greens | Elected to Victorian Parliament | 9 December 2022 | 19 January 2023 | Michael Glynatsis | | Independent |
| Swan Hill | Unsubdivided | Jade Benham | | Independent National | Elected to Victorian Parliament | 13 December 2022 | 17 January 2023 | Jacquie Kelly | | Independent |
| Brimbank | Harvester | Trung Luu | | Liberal | Elected to Victorian Parliament | 21 December 2022 | 24 January 2023 | Thomas O'Reilly | | Independent |
| Colac Otway | Unsubdivided | Joe McCracken | | Liberal | Elected to Victorian Parliament | 21 December 2022 | 18 January 2023 | Tosh-Jake Finnigan | | Sack Dan Andrews |
| Greater Geelong | Brownbill | Sarah Mansfield | | Greens | Elected to Victorian Parliament | 21 December 2022 | 23 January 2023 | Melissa Cadwell | | Independent Labor |
| Melton | Watts | Moira Deeming | | Liberal | Elected to Victorian Parliament | 21 December 2022 | 23 January 2023 | Justine Farrugia | | Independent |
| Port Phillip | Lake | Katherine Copsey | | Greens | Elected to Victorian Parliament | 21 December 2022 | 17 January 2023 | Robbie Nyaguy | | Labor |
| Mornington Peninsula | Seawinds | Kerri McCafferty | | Independent | Resignation | 21 December 2022 | 6 February 2023 | Simon Brooks | | Independent |
| Stonnington | East | Alexander Lew | | Liberal | Resignation | 21 December 2022 | 19 January 2023 | Joe Gianfriddo | | Angry Victorians |
| Colac Otway | Unsubdivided | Jamie Bell | | Independent | Resignation | 7 February 2023 | 1 March 2023 | Max Arnott | | Independent |
| Southern Grampians | Unsubdivided | Greg McAdam | | Independent | Resignation | 13 April 2023 | 17 May 2023 | Fran Malone | | Independent |
| Baw Baw | Central | Joe Gauci | | Independent | Resignation | 27 April 2023 | 17 May 2023 | Farhat Firdous | | Independent |
| Queenscliffe | Unsubdivided | Fleur Hewitt | | Independent | Resignation | 29 May 2023 | 19 June 2023 | Robert Minty | | Independent |
| Greater Geelong | Windermere | Kylie Grzybek | | Independent | Resignation | 29 May 2023 | 28 June 2023 | Sarah Hathway | | Socialist Alliance |
| Strathbogie | Lake Nagambie | David Andrews | | Independent | Resignation | 27 June 2023 | 17 July 2023 | Robin Weatherald | | United Australia |
| Glenelg | Unsubdivided | Anita Rank | | Independent National | Resignation | 30 June 2023 | 7 August 2023 | John Northcott | | Independent |
| Indigo | Unsubdivided | Larry Goldsworthy | | Independent | Resignation | 3 July 2023 | 9 August 2023 | Sue Gold | | Independent |
| Greater Geelong | Bellarine | Stephanie Asher | | Independent Liberal | Resignation | 31 July 2023 | 31 August 2023 | Elise Wilkinson | | Put Climate First |
| Bass Coast | Western Port | Bruce Kent | | Independent Liberal | Resignation | 7 August 2023 | 11 August 2023 | Geoff Ellis | | Independent Labor |
| Glenelg | Unsubdivided | Jayden Smith | | Independent | Resignation | 19 October 2023 | 20 November 2023 | Successful candidate did not confirm they are qualified |
| Glenelg | Unsubdivided | N/A | | N/A | No winner at previous countback | 20 November 2023 | 22 November 2023 | Successful candidate did not confirm they are qualified |
| Glenelg | Unsubdivided | N/A | | N/A | No winner at previous countback | 22 November 2023 | 27 November 2023 | Successful candidate did not confirm they are qualified |
| Glen Eira | Camden | David Zyngier | | Greens | Death | 26 November 2023 | 8 January 2024 | Jane Karslake | | Independent Labor |
| Glenelg | Unsubdivided | N/A | | N/A | No winner at previous countback | 27 November 2023 | 5 December 2023 | Robyn McDonald | | Independent |
| Frankston | North-West | Steven Hughes | | Independent | Resignation | 11 December 2023 | 15 January 2024 | Glenn Aitken | | Independent |
| Maribyrnong | River | Sarah Carter | | Labor | Death | 7 August 2024 | No countback held due to proximity of 2024 local elections |