In an election for two or more councillors, candidates are entitled to form a group and request a group voting square on the ballot paper. At least two candidates are required to form a group.

Candidates do not need to be nominated by a registered political party to form a group or to qualify for a group voting square.

Claim to form a group

Two or more candidates may lodge a claim to form a group using the ‘Request to form a group’ form, available from the:

• returning officer (RO)
• website
• candidate help desk on 1300 135 736.

This form must be lodged with the RO before the close of nominations. The claim must be signed by each candidate in the group, signifying their agreement to the order of the group as it will appear on the ballot paper. The registered officer or deputy registered officer of a registered political party cannot sign a claim on behalf of the group.

A candidate can appear in only one claim to form a group.

Group voting square

A claim to form a group that requests a group voting square only qualifies if:

• Undivided councils - the number of candidates in the group is at least half the number of candidates to be elected (i.e. if there are nine councillors to be elected the group must have at least five candidates to qualify for a group voting square)
• Divided councils (wards) - there are at least as many candidates in the group as there are candidates to be elected in that ward (i.e. if there are three councillors to be elected in the ward the group must have at least three candidates to qualify for a group voting square).

Unless more than one group has requested a group voting square, there will be no group voting squares and therefore no above the line voting on the ballot paper. In these cases the candidates who have formed a group would still be shown as a group but voters would only be able to mark their preferences for individual candidates.

Group voting squares

A group voting square is printed in the space above the thick black line on the ballot paper for each group that requests one. The group voting square allows voters to vote for the group or groups rather than showing preferences for individual candidates below the line.

Where all the candidates in the group have been nominated by the one registered political party, the registered political party name is printed on the ballot paper adjacent to the group voting square.

A group that is made up of candidates nominated by two or more registered political parties are entitled to have a composite name (indicating each of the registered political parties) adjacent to the group voting square and the full name or abbriviated name of the relevant party printed adjacent to each candidate's name. In this case, the composite party name that the group wishes to have on the ballot paper must be indicated on the Request to Form a Group (LG.204) form. 

Group voting squares of groups of ‘Independent’ candidates or candidates who have chosen not to have ‘Independent’ are identified only by the allocated letter of the alphabet, adjacent to them. The word ‘Independent’ cannot be printed adjacent to the group voting square but is printed adjacent to each candidate’s name.

A group comprised of a combination of candidates nominated by a RPP and ‘Independent’ candidates that have a group voting square are identified only by the allocated letter of the alphabet adjacent to the group voting square. The RPP name or the word ‘Independent’ cannot be printed adjacent to the group voting square above the line, but is printed adjacent to each candidate’s name.

Ungrouped candidates

Candidates who do not form a group with other candidates are called 'ungrouped' candidates and appear in a single column, at the far right hand side of the ballot paper.

Withdrawal of a claim to form a group

If a candidate or candidates in a group wish to withdraw from that group all candidates who made the claim must sign the ‘Withdrawal of a claim to be in a Group’ form, and it must be received by the returning officer before the close of nominations.

A ‘Withdrawal of a claim to be included in a group’ form is available from the:

• returning officer (RO)
• candidate help desk on 1300 135 736.

Should any of the candidates in the original group wish to form another group, all the candidates in the new group must sign a new ‘Request to form a group’ form and lodge it, together with their deposit by the close of nominations.

If the remaining candidates in the withdrawn group do not form a new group, they will remain as ungrouped candidates unless they withdraw their candidate nomination.

Withdrawal of nomination (if in a group)

A candidate in a group may withdraw their nomination. The group must submit a ‘Withdrawal of a claim to be included in a group’ form signed by all candidates. The candidate must then provide a signed notice to the RO, before the close of nominations. A registered officer or a deputy registered officer of a RPP cannot withdraw a candidate’s nomination.

A person who withdraws from a group remains a candidate in the election unless they also withdraw their nomination.

If a candidate withdraws their nomination the nomination deposit will not be returned until after the election.