Administration of Electoral Laws Prior to 1979

The functions of the electoral office were established under the provisions of the Constitution Act 1855 when the permanent head of the Chief Secretary's Department was entitled "Under Secretary and Chief Electoral Officer". The dual position was split in 1910 when the position of Chief Electoral Officer was created with general responsibility for the administration of electoral laws. (Refer to Electoral Act 1910, No.2288)

The Chief Electoral Officer appears to have operated within the Chief Secretary's Department which was responsible for the administration of electoral laws.

Establishment of the State Electoral Office.

Following the abolition of the Chief Secretary's Department in 1979, responsibility for the Chief Electoral Officer was transferred to the Department of Property and Services. The State Electoral Office was established as a division of that Department.

Under the provisions of the Constitution Act Amendment (Electoral Reform) Act 1988 (No.75 of 1988) which came into operation of 1 January 1989, an independent Electoral Commissioner was appointed by the Governor-in-Council. The Public Service office of Chief Electoral Officer was replaced by the independent statutory office of Electoral Commissioner. The Electoral Commissioner reports directly to Parliament and is neither subject to the Public Service Act 1974 nor to the direction of any Minister. The Electoral Commissioner has the status of a Chief Administrator.

From 1 January 1989, the State Electoral Office ceased to be a division of the Department of Property and Services. The State Electoral Office is now the administrative agency through which the legislative functions of the Electoral Commissioner are carried out. However, financial and personnel support continued to be provided by the Department of Property and Services.

In 1991, with the abolition of the Department of Property and Services the Ministry of Finance assumed responsibility for the provision of financial and personnel support.

Function

The State Electoral Office is the administrative unit which performs the functions attributed to the Electoral Commission.

The office is responsible for:

the organization and conduct of state parliament elections; polls under the Liquor Control Act 1968 and Departmental elections e.g. for Public Service Board and the Victorian Nursing Council.

registration of electors (jointly with the Australian Electoral Commissioner from 1924 (Legislative Assembly) and from 1952 (Legislative Council).

preparation of electoral rolls

the division of electorates

preparation of jury rolls

preparation of statistics relating to enrolment and voting.

Location of Records

For records of the State Electoral Office and its predecessor see below and List of Holdings 2nd edition 1985, section 3.18.11. For information regarding the administration of the office, researchers are advised to consult the records of the Chief Secretary's Department (VA 475) and the Department of Property and Services (VA 430).