E nrolment for the 20 Victorian councils conducting election on 20 March 1999 have increased by 11.5% since their last elections in 1996 (1997 for Nillumbik Shire). The total vote in all Wards/Ridings and unsubdivided Councils sum has risen to 885,310 from their previous total of 793,960. A large part of this increase has been due to the extension of the vote to more non-resident owners and occupiers by legislation in 1997.

Melbourne City Council has recorded an increase of 33% in enrolment indicative of substantial population growth at Southbank and within the CBD since 1996. Regional centres, Ballarat, Greater Bendigo and Warrnambool recorded enrolment increases above and around the average rate of 11.5%. Enrolments were essentially unchanged (under 5% increase) in four Councils and actually fell in two others, Ararat and Corangamite.

A total of 98,478 voters for the City of Melbourne and Shire of Nillumbik also vote for council-wide District councillors under a system of quota-based proportional representation. Differences in the sum of Ward votes and the District vote are due to the fact that a voter may have an entitlement to vote in more than one Ward/Riding but can only have one vote in the single council-wide District.

B allot papers for 15 council elections have been mailed out this week. These postal ballot councils have a total enrolment (sum of all Wards/Ridings and unsubdivided councils) of 569,763 votes (64.36%) of the grand total of 885,310.

In 1996 (or 1997 for Nillumbik), of these 20 councils, nine conducted postal vote ballots with a total enrolment of 379,797 votes (47.84%) of a grand total of 793,960 votes. Postal voting has become especially favoured by large rural councils whereas the traditional attendance ballot remains popular amongst smaller, inner metropolitan councils.