Vote Tampering Concerns in Kingston By-election
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Date: 14 August 2026
Nikki Kaur has taken the oath of office as Kingston City Council‘s newest Melaleuca Ward councillor, after being declared elected in a by-election now under scrutiny by the Victorian Electoral Commission (VEC).
Election Manager Rod Van Cooten declared Cr Kaur elected at 10am on Friday 14 August. But the VEC says it has identified irregularities in postal voting during routine election integrity checks and has referred the matter to the Local Government Inspectorate. The VEC will also apply to the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (VCAT) for an inquiry into the election’s validity. Cr Kaur will continue to serve as councillor until further advice is provided by VCAT and the VEC.
Electoral Commissioner Sven Bluemmel said the VEC took any allegation of interference with a person’s vote seriously, and that the commission’s focus was on the integrity and validity of the election, with any question of criminality a matter for the relevant authorities.
Kingston Mayor Cr Georgina Oxley said council was committed to upholding local democracy and would work closely with the VEC to ensure correct procedures were followed, and welcomed the referral to the Local Government Inspectorate and any other necessary agencies. Cr Oxley congratulated Cr Kaur on her election.
Cr Kaur, who has lived in Kingston for almost two decades and has a professional background in IT and occupational health and safety, thanked Melaleuca Ward voters for their trust and said she was looking forward to engaging with residents and businesses.
City of Kingston CEO Peter Bean thanked all thirteen by-election candidates for putting themselves forward, and congratulated Cr Kaur on the start of her term.
The VEC said it would not provide further commentary on matters referred to the Inspectorate or before VCAT. It said voters are entitled to seek assistance with postal voting, including help returning a completed ballot pack, but electoral law prohibits interference, coercion, or improperly completing a ballot on another person’s behalf.