13 November 2009

A total of ten candidates have nominated to run in the by-election in the electorate of Higgins, the Divisional Returning Officer, Mark Strong, announced today.

The candidates were officially declared at a public event held by the Australian Electoral Commission (AEC) at 12 noon today.

A total of eight candidates ran in the Higgins electorate at the 2007 federal election.

Mr Strong said that the secure printing of ballot papers would now begin and early voting would commence on Monday, 16 November 2009 for those electors with a valid and sufficient reason for being unable to vote on election day.

Election day for the Higgins by-election is Saturday, 5 December 2009. It is compulsory for all electors enrolled in the electorate of Higgins to vote in the Higgins by-election, including electors aged over 70 years. This differs from Local Government elections in Victoria where voting is not compulsory for people over 70.

For more information on enrolment or the by-election visit our website or call the AEC on 13 23 26.

The candidates in ballot paper order for the Higgins by-election are:

Position on ballot paper	Candidate's name	Party
1	MURPHY, Stephen	Independent
2	PATTEN, Fiona	Australian Sex Party
3	O'DWYER, Kelly	Liberal
4	ROBERTS, Isaac	Liberal Democrats (LDP)
5	HAMILTON, Clive	The Greens
6	COLLYER, David	Australian Democrats
7	TOSCANO, Joseph	Independent
8	RASKOVY, Steve	One Nation
9	BROHIER, Peter	Independent
10	MULHOLLAND, John	D.L.P. - Democratic Labor Party

Media contacts

Steve Kennedy
Director Operations, Victorian State Office
Australian Electoral Commission
03 9285 7105
0413 271 211