Key statistics from the report show the GSCC 2024 participation rate was 80.79 per cent, lower than the 2020 rate of 85.86 per cent, and the 2024 state average of 83.79 per cent.
The GSCC 2024 voter turnout was 79.33 per cent, down from 83.65 per cent in 2020.
Participation is the percentage of enrolled voters who returned a ballot envelope, whereas turnout is the percentage of formal and informal ballot papers counted in the election from enrolled voters.
The informal voting rate recorded for GSCC was 2.75 per cent, which was lower than the 2020 rate of 7.11 per cent, and the 2024 state average of 3.47 per cent.
The VEC received 19 written complaints about the GSCC 2024 election, most of which were about election participation and conduct, often alleging inappropriate or illegal action by a person or group associated with the election.
Cr Anthony Brophy put forward the motion to note and receive the report, which was seconded by Cr Rod Schubert.
Cr Brophy said “congratulations” were in order for Greater Shepparton residents, for the “very low informal voting rate”, which was “much lower than in previous elections”.
“(The low informal voting rate) may be due to the ward structure, given the fact that you may only be selecting three or four particular candidates as opposed to say 29 across the board,” Cr Brophy said.
Cr Schubert said the report was “very comprehensive”, and “very helpful to understand what actually happened” in the election.
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