EARLY voting has begun in the state election, with telephone voting also available for flood-affected communities.
Seven candidates threw their hat into the ring for the Murray Plains district at the close of nominations on Friday.
The Swan Hill early voting centre is located at 159 Stradbroke Avenue and for the electorate to the east, at 200 Pakenham Street, Echuca.
Opening times are available at maps.vec.vic.gov.au/elections
The Victorian Electoral Commission has released a list of designated flood-affected areas eligible for telephone assisted voting.
People who have been disrupted by the recent floods and have been able to return to their homes should use the VEC’s online voting centre locator to see if their regular voting location is available, or whether it has had to be relocated.
Victorians within the designated areas who are unable to vote in person on or before election day, will be eligible to vote by calling the VEC’s telephone assisted voting service from November 19.
The three designated areas in the Gannawarra Shire incorporate Kerang and surrounds including areas south along the Loddon River; areas north-west of Kerang including Lake Boga and Lake Charm.
Areas along the Murray River including Murrabit and low-lying areas along the Murray River between Mildura and Swan Hill which are anticipated as having potential flood impacts during the election period.
Electoral Commissioner Warwick Gately reminded voters to use in-person and postal voting options if possible.
"Telephone assisted voting is available primarily for people who face significant barriers to voting in person or by post, including blind and low vision voters, those with a physical disability and, now also, those flood-affected voters who cannot get to a voting centre from November 19 to November 26," he said.
"If you are flood-affected and you are still able to access the internet and receive mail, please apply online for a postal vote to conserve the telephone voting service for those with no ability to receive mail or travel to a voting centre."
Flood-affected voters who qualify for telephone assisted voting, can call 13 57 23 from November 19 up to 6pm on election day to register to vote by phone. The areas designated for telephone assisted voting are listed at vec.vic.gov.au/flood-affected-victorians
